Cate Blanchett's Influences

Gina Wilhelm Actress

Cate Blanchett's life has given her a lot of material from which to draw for her performance in "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

The story is told in flashback from her character's hospital room. The character is seen from childhood (played by a different actress) through adulthood and into her 80s (played by Blanchett).

Blanchett took some of her inspiration (and mannerisms) for her character at the end of her life from her own grandmother.

Additionally, her first job as an adolescent was in a senior citizen's home, which provided further development for her character.

Of course, she also gives much credit to the film's makeup team.

As an adult, the character is a dancer. Blanchett studied ballet, though only through childhood. She did almost all her own movement in the movie except for a few shots using a stand-in including a rapid sequence of steps.

Known for frequent performance in period pieces ("Elizabeth," "Elizabeth: The Golden Age," "The Aviator," "I'm Not There"), she will next be playing the title role in "Richard II" on stage in her native Australia.

"The Curious Case of Benjamin Button" opens December 25th and has received a SAG Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

Gina Wilhelm Actress