Cate's speech at the APAM

Cate addressed many arts delegates from all over the world at the Australian Performing Arts Market, where she delivered the keynote address this year. As an excerpt of an APAM press release states:

"Acclaimed actor Cate Blanchett has been announced as the keynote speaker at the Australian Performing Arts Market (APAM) in Adelaide next month (22 - 26 February).

Securing Cate Blanchett to deliver the keynote address is a major coup for the Market, given her high profile and intimate knowledge of the performing arts and film industries both in Australia and abroad.

Her experience as the Co-Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company, combined with her recent return from the outstandingly successful tour to New York and Washington with A Streetcar Named Desire, means she will bring a fresh, 'on the ground' perspective to APAM.

She will address an audience of Australian and international delegates at the event, which plays a major role in launching Australian artists onto the international stage."

You can download a transcript of Cate's speech here:
http://www.performingartsmarket.com.au/assets/downloads/Keynote%20Address%20Transcript%20Cate%20Blanchett.pdf

'Spring Awakening' opening night

Cate and Andrew attended the opening night of 'Spring Awakening' at the Sydney Theatre Company today. Some pictures below, via Gossip Center, thanks Gommyna at the forum for posting!

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Cate to star in 'Hanna' with Saoirse Ronan and Eric Bana?

A new movie rumor has popped up at the forums, as reported by Variety.

"Cate Blanchett is joining Saoirse Ronan and Eric Bana in the Joe Wright-directed thriller Hanna at Focus Features. The film centers on a 14-year-old Eastern European girl who has been raised by her father to be a cold-blooded killing machine. She connects with a French family, forms a friendship with their daughter and goes through the pangs of adolescence. When the girl is dragged back to her father's world and discovers that she was bred as a killing machine in a CIA prison camp, she must fight her way to a free life."

The Playlist provides more insight on the parts and the casting:

"The film stars Saoirse Ronan as a teenage girl raised as a lethal killing machine by her ex-CIA operative father played by Eric Bana. DHD doesn't say who Blanchett will play, but having read the script, a sort of "La Femme Nikita" meets "Bourne" full throttle actioner by Seth Lochhead and David Farr, we can say without question it's the role of Maria, the central villain, a high-level CIA agent chasing down Hanna, who knows her father's methods all too well from their past history and work together in the field."

The script for 'Hanna' was listed on the 2009 Black List, an annual list of the best unproduced screenplays of the year. Rumor has it Danny Boyle and Seth Lochhead were attached as part contributing writers in early 2009, before eventually leaving the project. This is the second movie rumor involving director Joe Wright, whom Cate was set to work with on 'Indian Summer', a project which was cancelled late last year due to, amongst other things, budgetary issues.

Thanks Daisy Button and Blaze78 for the heads up!

Cate in Tokyo

Cate visited Tokyo to promote her favorite brand of skincare, SKII. Some pictures below! Thanks to Elizabeth Rex for posting!

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AFI Awards move to Sydney

Cate and NSW premier Kristina Keneally announced that the Australian Film Industry Awards will be moving back to Sydney from next year after nine years in Melbourne, as the Victorian Government recently withdrew support for the annual event. Sydney will host the event from 2011 to 2014 and has the option to extend the agreement. Some pictures from the press conference for the announcement below! Thanks Blaze78 for the headsup.

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