Cate Blanchett has been unveiled as the Wakehurst Botanic Gardens’ first-ever ambassador on Earth Day.

The Australian actress, 54, has sported an array of jaw-dropping looks at film premieres and award shows over her 34-year career.

But Cate opted for a more casual look in a blue jumper and jeans as she stood at the Wakehurst site, which is managed by Kew Gardens, to pose for snaps as its new ambassador.

Cate said of the honour: ‘I am delighted to be Wakehurst’s inaugural ambassador. I find the work done here to be utterly inspiring, and a genuine insurance policy against extinction of wild flora and fauna. 

‘The Millennium Seed Bank is a beacon of hope and international cooperation at a time when we’ve never needed it more.’

Cate Blanchett, 54, has been unveiled as the Wakehurst Botanic Gardens’ first-ever ambassador on World Earth Day 

The Australian actress has sported an array of jaw-dropping looks at film premieres and award shows over her 34-year career

But Cate opted for a more casual look in a blue jumper and jeans as she stood at the Wakehurst site, which is managed by Kew Gardens, as its new ambassador 

Cate visits Wakehurst regularly and enjoys walks in the gardens’ 535 acres which are filled with plants from around the world. 

She added: ‘Apart from it being a rich hub, Wakehurst is such a beautiful place to lose yourself in nature, in the immense varieties of trees, plants and grasses, that I want to help spread the word about this unique and stunning landscape that positively impacts all of our lives.’

Richard Deverell, Director of Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, said: ‘I am really delighted to welcome Cate into our fantastic Ambassador programme. 

‘She has been a powerful advocate on social and environmental issues throughout her career and I know she holds special affection for our wild botanic garden, Wakehurst, home to the Millennium Seed Bank. 

‘We look forward to working with Cate to bring the wonders of what we do to a wider audience and to celebrate nature together.’

Wakehurst, home of the tallest living Christmas tree, and Cate aptly chose April 22, which is Earth Day, to make the announcement. 

Though she is the first ambassador of Wakehurst, Cate joins an existing programme of eleven esteemed Ambassadors and Champions who support the work of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

They include fellow actresses Dame Judi Dench and Kim Cattrall, botanist James Wong, and garden historian and TV presenter Advolly Richmond, amongst others. 

Cate joins Kim Cattrall and Judi Dench (pictured) as Ambassadors and Champions who support the work of the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew

The news comes after Cate slammed social media filters for preventing people from aging naturally.

She claimed photo filters and apps like Instagram warp expectations of ageing and beauty.

She said she finds it ‘confronting’ that people now look too much like ‘Barbie dolls’, reported The Sunday Times.

Cate observed: ‘Nobody’s getting older. They just look like Barbie dolls.’

She continued: ‘It’s not the ageing I find confronting at all. Because that is like when you stumble across a photo of a holiday when you were 16 or one of my husband and me when we got married.’

‘It doesn’t produce regret or shame. Rather, a recognition of the joy of the experience or a painful moment. I’m transported right back.’

The Thor star has always been candid about her approach to ageing, with the beauty telling Harper’s Bazaar in 2018 she was ‘not panicking’ about turning 50 at the time.

‘I think about it on an existential level, sure, but on a career level, I refuse,’ she told the publication.