Cate Blanchett is one of the world's most recognisable and praised actresses has always had a passion for acting despite studying economics and fine art at the University of Melbourne.At the age of eighteen, whilst on holiday in Egypt, she was asked to be an extra in a movie. She returned home to her native Australia were she moved to Sydney to study at the National Institute of Dramatic Art.After graduating in 1992 Cate went into the theatre. Her first role was alongside Geoffrey rush in Oleanna she starred again with Rush a year later in Hamlet as Ophelia.She made her international film debut in Bruce Beresford's Paradise Road as a nurse who is captured by the Japanese.The film tells the story of a group of women who are imprisoned in World War II in Sumatra and was based on the books Song of Survival and White Coolies.But Cate's first high profile role came in Shekar Kapur's 1998 film Elizabeth, which was loosely based on the early years of her reign.

Elizabeth re-united Blanchett with Geoffrey Rush as her loyal advisor Francis Walsingham.

Her performance earnt her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress, losing out to Gwyneth Paltrow, but she did win a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for her performance.

She secured a second BAFTA nomination twelve months later for her supporting role in The Talented Mr. Ripley.

After this success she went on to star in a string of lesser known movies including Pushing Tin and The Gift.

But she returned as elf Queen Galadriel in the Lord of the Rings trilogy, which went on to be the most successful trilogy of all time, appearing in all three movies.

But it was her performance in Martin Scorsese's The Aviator as Katharine Hepburn that earnt her an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress.

Two years later she secured another Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her role as Sheba Hart in Notes On A Scandal with Judi Dench, who was also nominated but in the Best Actress category.

Cate has reprised her role as Elizabeth I in Elizabeth:The Golden Age and is based on events, including the Spanish Armada, that occurred during her reign. Rush also returns as Walsingham and they are joined by Clive Owen and Samantha Morton.

Later this year Cate is just one of six actors who will play Bob Dylan in a biopic film about his life entitled I'm Not There.

Next summer she will star alongside Harrison Ford in the highly anticipated fourth Indiana Jones film Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

While her character has been described as the leading lady her role in the film has been kept secret. The film also stars Shia LaBeouf, Ray Winstone, Karen Allen and John Hurt.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw

Elizabeth: The Golden Age is released today.

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