RUPERT ON AN IDEAL HUSBAND ETC.

Rupert, of course, could not help but make news out of Cannes, outspoken boy that he is. A sample:

The British actor says he took the role of the sardonic, epigram-spouting Lord Goring because "it reminds me of one of those screwball comedies of the 30s - very MYRNA LOY and WILLIAM POWELL. Lots of people rushing through doors, mistaken identities and confused intentions."

"You already always know exactly what's going to happen when you go to a Shakespeare play, so you just go to hear the words recited again. Besides, he never really concludes his plays, and that's frustrating."

Everett also took a jab at the recent film Wilde, which he called "ridiculous" for its portrayal of the gay playwright as a virtual proponent of family values.

CATE ARTICLE ROUNDUP

This has been a great week for discovering some superb articles related to our Cate. Since a couple of these articles are quite extensive, we thought we would give you a taste of them, then provide links for you to explore further, should you be interested.

"My first view of the woman behind the emerging legend is in a mirror. As I enter the seedy bathroom at the back of London's Almeida Theatre, a woman with her back to me is putting on lipstick. Blanchett has often been called a chameleon, but there's still no mistaking the translucent skin, pale blue, sloe-shaped eyes and geometric cheekbones in the small, round mirror. All I miss is the smattering of freckles. It feels like a perfectly set up shot from a movie, until she waves the lipstick and explains that it is one quick way of making the mental shift between rehearsal room and interview."

It is a wonderful article. Cate talks about watching Elizabeth, about going to University, her looks, and many of her admirers talk about her...Highly recommended.

"For all the praise, Cate remains remarkably unswayed by the sudden heat. It is partly because of her intelligence and maturity; partly because of her best friend, support and the love of her life, husband Andrew Upton, a screenwriter.

"I have rarely seen a husband so supportive of his wife's success," says Shekar Kapur. "Cate is one of the luckiest girls to have Andrew."
Cate, reluctant to discuss her private life, politely tells interviewers at the outset that her family and husband are private people and would they mind not asking questions about them. But, like most women in love, she can't help mentioning Andrew, describing him as "the most grounded man I know, with his head in the stars".

What will interest Cate fans most, however, is that he details some previous difficulties in dealing with studio execs:
"I returned to Australia for a few months to finish off my film Paradise Road (1997), based on a true story about (mostly) European women prisoners of the Japanese during World War II. This was also partially financed by Fox (a different division from that headed by Laura Ziskin), who were now drowning me in unhelpful and usually contradictory advice now that editing was in the final stages.

One fax arrived, almost as long as the script of the film, with a mountain of suggested cuts.
Although I didn't agree with more than one or two of them, the editor and I went ahead and did them all, just out of curiosity about the final result. The film now ran 41 minutes, two of the major characters (Cate Blanchett's and Frances McDormand's) no longer appeared, and the Japanese appeared to be running a Club Med rather than a tough POW camp."

So, you have plenty of tasty reading before you, Cate fans. Enjoy!
Also, please note, since we are finding new material on such a frequent basis, and the site is already so extensive, we have taken to flaring the new article links with a "New" flame to make them easier to identify.

CATE GETS STAMP OF APPROVAL

Cate's career continues to move at an accelerated rate. With a Lifetime Achievement Award due any day now, some are not waiting for formalities. Yes, the first sovereign nation, a former Republic of the Soviet Union, has weighed in with the premiere Cate Blanchett commemorative stamp!
All loyal Cate fans everywhere should petition their postmaster to do the same, immediately if not sooner.

CATE ON TELLY

There is a lot of news regarding Cate on television now, or in the near future, via broadcast or video.

"Elizabeth" will finally be making its way into Aussie video stores come June 23.
The DVD has just been released Stateside, and contains a wonder of treasures including an auxillary audio track with Director's Commentary, letterbox capability, a production short, photos, and other goodies.

E! Channel has a brief interview with Cate from Cannes at the end of their "E! Goes To Cannes" special.
E! Channel will also be airing, on the heels of their entertaining Behind The Scenes with 'Pushing Tin", a Behind The Scenes with "An Ideal Husband" on:
(All times PST...+3 EST)
Saturday, June 19 at 11:00AM
Saturday, June 19 at 10:30PM
Sunday, June 20 at 11:30PM

Plus, if you do have access to satellite or know someone that does, be aware that beginning Wednesday, June 16, "Elizabeth" will be playing in heavy rotation on pay-per-view.

The great thing here is that it will initially be showing in letterbox format on one channel and in pan-and-scan on the others. Most cable systems should be offering it as part of their PPV packages, but, seek out the letterboxed version if possible, and see it as you did in the theatre.

Also, "Paradise Road" will have two more airings on Cinemax in June, just in case you need another crack at that.

STOP AND WATCH THE TULIP!

We mentioned last week the exciting news about "Bangers", the short film written and directed by Cate's hubby, Andrew, starring Cate herself, will be screening at the American Cinematheque's Down Under Shorts fest on June 23 in Los Angeles.

We also mentioned that Rachel Griffiths' short, "Tulip", will be screening as well. Well, since daggy Rachel is also one our faves, we thought we'd spotlight her here with a couple of delightful glimpses.

The first is your opportunity to screen, "Tulip", in it's entirety, online. Just go to TULIP and cop a gander.

If that doesn't satisfy your need for Rachelisation and, really, why should it, check out this wonderful article and interview with the delightful Ms. G.
Be forewarned, the piece is from October 1998, but, it does an effective job of conveying why Rachel fans are, well, Rachel fans. Check it out, have a giggle, and become one of the converted. You may find it at RACHEL ROCKS!.

Well, ladies and gents, that's all for this week. And, although we don't really need to tell ya at this point, don't forget, when all else fails, "PLAY A VOLTA!".