Their careers have followed an undeniably similar upward trajectory, but Oscar-winners Kate Winslet and Cate Blanchett claim fans often confuse them when they’re out in public.
Both actresses emerged in the 1990s, with British star Winslet finding fame as lovelorn teenager Rose DeWitt Bukater in James Cameron’s epic Titanic, while Blanchett cracked Hollywood following her titular role in royal biopic Elizabeth.
The pair have since won numerous accolades for their onscreen achievements, but they admit fans frequently confuse one with the other despite them sharing few facial similarities.
Appearing on Friday’s edition of The Graham Norton Show, Blanchett, 54, said: ‘I get it all they time. People will say, “Is it you? Is it you?” and I say, “Yes I think so.” and then they say, “I loved you in Titanic.”‘
Sharing a similar public encounter, Winslet, 48, added: ‘I get people coming up to me saying, ‘I loved you in Elizabeth.’ It happens a lot.’
Their careers have followed an undeniably similar upward trajectory, but Oscar-winners Kate Winslet (left) and Cate Blanchett (right) claim fans often confuse them when they’re out in public
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The actress was on hand to discuss her latest role in satirical drama The Regime, a six-episode series depicting a year within the palace of a crumbling authoritarian regime.
Discussing her role as Elena Vernham, the chancellor of a fictional autocracy, she said: ‘I never feel confident. It was completely terrifying.
‘I have never played a character like this before. She is so absurd and really just nuts.
‘I knew that I was going to have to try and find a way to do something I have never done before. Every single day I was like, “Come on, you can do it.” It was such a wild ride.’
The actress also admitted it was a relief to back on a conventional set after spending three years working around restrictions put in place during the coronavirus pandemic.
She said: ‘After COVID, being in a pack of actors was overwhelming – we had all missed that sense of just playing when you get into a room and fire off each other. It was just a great experience.’
Talking about her own new film, Australian period drama The New Boy – in which she plays a nun – Blanchett said: ‘I am fascinated by the clash of indigenous spirituality and the industrial complex that is Catholicism.
‘I always wanted to play a nun, and this is my first one. I hope it’s not my last.’
The pair were on hand to discuss their latest TV and film projects with the Irish presenter
(L-R) Kate Winslet, Cate Blanchett,Graham Norton, Dua Lipa, Adrian Lester and Justin Timberlake on Friday’s instalment of the show
Asked about the beauty of the Australia scenery in the film, she added: ‘It is incredible. The landscape is a real character, it’s extraordinary.
‘We were in the middle of nowhere and I love how benign the landscape look, that you can walk into long grass and not think about anything.
‘In reality, the fear of walking into a wheat field and stepping on a Brown snake is huge, yet you have to run with spiritual joy. Now that is acting!”
The Graham Norton Show airs on BBC One, Friday 23rd February 10.40pm. Also available on BBC iPlayer.
