Cate Blanchett Shuts Down a Reporter’s Irrelevant Questions
Cate Blanchett has won two Academy Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and three British Academy Awards. (Photo: Patrick Demarchelier/Trunk Archive)
When you’re a multi-Academy Award-winning actress like Cinderella star Cate Blanchett, you’re used to press junkets. But on Wednesday evening, Blanchett found herself in an awkward hot seat on Australian current affairs TV program The Project. When you’re interviewing one of the most brilliant actresses of our time, you should probably ask her about her acting or find out what’s important to her, but Channel Ten on-air reporter Jonathan Hyla made some misguided attempts at humor. It didn’t really go over as planned.
Cate Blanchett as the stepmother in the new Disney film Cinderella. (Photo: Disney)
Hyla suggested he should have brought some beers along for the interview, to which Blanchett replied, “I do not drink beers.” He also asked her why the new Disney film wasn’t R-rated (perhaps he should be asking the boards behind motion picture ratings instead?). He may not have been asking about her wardrobe, but he wasn’t asking her anything substantial, either.
“Okay, serious question, how were you able to get that cat to do what you wanted it to do on a leash?” he asked. “I tried to put my girlfriend’s cat on a leash and it just never works for me!”
Blanchett turned to her publicist in—faux?—outrage before turning back to Hyla: “That’s your question? That’s your f*cking question? Nice to meet you?” She outstretched her hand for a cordial goodbye shake. She handled the issue in a classy way, while laughing about it. She has a movie to promote and no time to spare, after all.
No, they don’t do that to the guys. (Photo: E!)
This isn’t the first time that Blanchett has talked back to media—a few years ago, when E!’s camera swooped over her body from bottom to top, she pointed to the camera and asked the cameraman, “Do you do that to the guys?”
The #AskHerMore campaign which hit red carpets this past awards season, challenged reporters and commentators “Don’t just ask about the dress. Ask about the woman wearing it.” Celebrities like Lena Dunham, Maria Shriver, Patricia Arquette, Reese Witherspoon, and even feminist icon Gloria Steinem spoke out on the red carpet and on social media about how the questions shouldn’t stop at the actress’ manicures and designer gowns. And while Hyla may just have been attempting lighthearted banter, we really wanted to hear less from Hyla and more from one of the most outstanding actresses in the world.
Related:
#AskHerMore: Why The Questions Shouldn’t Stop at the Mani Cam
