Movie News

Blanchett casts Queenly aura over London

Wed 24 Oct 3:20 PM

Cate Blanchett literally dazzled on the red carpet at the The Times BFI London Film Festival premiere of Elizabeth: The Golden Age in a navy blue sequinned dress.

The premiere took place on Tuesday night (October 23) at the Odeon Leicester Square as part of the 51st London Film Festival. The Australian actress, who plays the monarch in the film, was joined by co-stars Samantha Morton, Geoffrey Rush, Rhys Ifans and director Shekhar Kapur.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age is the sequel to Elizabeth, the 1998 Oscar-nominated film which also starred Blanchett. This episode is set in 1585 - three decades into Queen Elizabeth's reign, as the monarch continues to face down conspiracies, having reigned over England for nearly three decades. It also explores the relationship between the monarch and the adventurer Sir Walter Raleigh, played by Clive Owen.

Blanchett described the role as "the female version of Hamlet", explaining: "There’s a long legacy of actresses who played Elizabeth going all the way back to Sarah Bernhard. Helen Mirren, Anne-Marie Duff, Judi Dench, Glenda Jackson - my God! There’s a real legacy." On getting into one of history's most complex characters, Blanchett added: "You do have to raise yourself up to the role. They were very complex times. She was a complicated woman and she’s always a challenge.”

Made by Working Title (Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bridget Jones's Diary), the film opens nationwide on November 2.