Quotes from Cate Blanchett

I think our Western society is very much about, 'Tuck your head in; make sure you're safe. Don't rock the boat.'

There are certain things in ancient practices that are not worth adhering to.

Before having children, I think I probably approached work very differently, and you become much more economical and pragmatic about your relationship to it.

I think when I was pregnant with my first child - he's about 10 or 11 now - I first noticed changes in my skin, which can make you panic a bit. I had a bit of melasma.

I think the height of ridiculousness was when I was playing Elizabeth in 'The Golden Age' while preparing to start shooting 'I'm Not There.' I literally finished filming Elizabethan grandeur on Friday, flew to Montreal, and started being Bob Dylan on Monday.

I never want to work. Even when you're presented with these great opportunities, I think, 'I really love being in my pajamas with the kids.'

Believe it or not, I'm pretty good at just doing nothing.

I've been pretty lucky in the leading men department.

My father died when I was young, and after he did, my mother had it tough. Very tough.

Some ideas, like what you're going to do with your life, take time to form.

Mind the gap - it's the distance between life as you dream it and life as it is.

Violence and racism are bad. Whenever they occur they are to be condemned and we should not turn a blind eye to them.

I'm incredibly lucky that my profession allows me to be where I choose, really.

Every director works differently.

When you're directing something, you absolutely have to be involved in all layers of the process.

I would have loved to have been an architect - which, actually, would have been a disaster.

I want to be able to follow the example of those extraordinary British actresses who move effortlessly from film to TV to theatre roles.

Australia is a remarkable country with incredible technical and physical resources and a capacity to be a world leader in renewables.

If I had my way, if I was lucky enough, if I could be on the brink my entire life - that great sense of expectation and excitement without the disappointment - that would be the perfect state.

To become a painter or a sculptor or a graphic designer is quite an isolated way to spend your life.

In my career, I thought I've never wanted to get anywhere in particular. I just wanted to work with interesting people on interesting projects.

I think at the prospect of bringing children into the world, your mortality comes very much to the forefront, absolutely.

I think there is a long exploration in American drama of women in particular who, by force of circumstances or because they are predisposed to, choose fantasy over reality.

I'm incredibly fortunate to have met the intelligent, generous, risk-taking, stimulating man to whom I am married. He's really amazing.