Cate Blanchetts Fiery Red Carpet Showdown!

showed the London media she wasn't prepared to be messed with during a red carpet appearance at the on Sunday.

The 56-year-old gave one noisy reporter the finger after the male photographer would not stop yelling at the Australian-born Oscar winner for a photo op.

At first, Cate kept her cool, telling him with a smile to 'stop' asking for a picture at his convenience.

But after he insisted, the actress stuck up the middle finger of her left hand in his direction - while keeping her face turned away.

The cheeky gesture was met with a chorus of raucous laughter from the media scrum, while the Lord of the Rings star reacted with a broad grin.

A video of Cate's unexpected red carpet moment was later posted on the Movie TV News site and met with enthusiastic approval from fans.

'God, that was the smoothest, classiest flip I’ve seen in a minute,' gushed one person, while another added, 'I love her for this.'

'Cate & Kate Winslet are very similar in this regard,' commented another. 'Don't give them any bloody nonsense, they won't put up with it!!'

Cate led the star arrivals alongside , , and Rosamund Pike at the Royal Albert Hall for the A-list theatre awards event.

Sporting a flattering bob, the blonde star

Sadly for Cate, it was Rosamund, 47, who took home the Best Actress award on the night.

Cate had

The appearance came after it was reported, last April, that the acclaimed star was ready to retire.

Cate hesitated about her job title during an interview with Radio Times and explained: 'It's because I'm giving up [acting]. My family roll their eyes every time I say it, but I mean it. I am serious.'