Cate Blanchett

I remember thinking, when I was playing Hedda Gabler, that several sequences of the play were utterly absurd. ”

I'm not sure if I want to direct a film, but certainly, as an actress, I'm always thinking, 'Surely this must be my last film.' ”

Happiness is fleeting - I think that's the main lesson I have learned. ”

I think if you're going to wear a red lip, you don't want it wearing you, so it's about finding the right colour. ”

I believe that a creative career is only as good as the risks that you take with it. ”

Every director works differently. ”

I admire the work of brilliant actresses such as Judi Dench, Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren, who have had such varied careers. They have never stopped working, and they are as great today as they ever were. ”

There is not a lot of separation between work and home life. ”

Actresses can get outrageously precious about the way they look. That's not what life's about. If you starve yourself to the point where your brain cells shrivel, you will never do good work. And if you're overly conscious of your arms flapping in the wind, how can you look the other actor in the eye to respond to them? ”

I live my life parallel with my work, and they are both equally important. I'm always amazed how much people talk about celebrity and fame. I don't understand the attraction. ”