CATE THE GREAT: 'IT'S VERY HARD TO LET GO AS A MOTHER'

MRS.AMERICA ACTRESS CATE BLANCHETT OPENS UP ABOUT FEMINISM AND FAMILY LIFE

- ALAN TANNER

The past few years have seen huge progress in the battle for gender equality in Hollywood. But back in the 1970s, one woman was fighting against feminism in the USA as strongly as those battling for it.

In brand new US drama Mrs America, currently airing on BBC2, Cate Blanchett plays anti-feminist activist Phyllis Schlafly. Although they have little in common when it comes to their beliefs, one aspect of the character Cate can relate to is her role as a mum.

The actress and her husband of 22 years, Andrew Upton, share sons Dashiell, 18, Roman, 16, and Ignatius, 12, as well as daughter Edith, who they adopted as a baby back in 2015. Of their home life in the East Sussex countryside, the 51-year old jokes, “It’s a mess. I don’t know how else to describe it. It’s a wonderful, wonderful mess.”

While the pandemic has forced many of us to slow down, it appears that Cate is busier than ever. Stateless, her six-part drama on immigration, has just landed on Netflix. Cate executive produced the project, as well as starring in it. She’s also set to play Lucille Ball in upcoming Amazon film, Lucy And Desi.

Here, the Australian star talks about the changing landscape of the film industry and family debates over the dinner table...

What do you consider the toughest aspect of being a parent?