Cate Blanchett says her foray into a Marvel franchise has allowed her to “speak the same language” as her children.

The award-winning actress, known for dramatic stage and screen roles, has proved she is equally at home in action movies as she takes on the role of Hela, goddess of death in Thor: Ragnarok.

The star, who will co-host the Evening Standard Theatre Awards in December, has children Dashiell, 15, Roman, 13, Ignatius, nine, and Edith, three, with husband Andrew Upton.

She said she relished the chance of the role, working with Chris Hemsworth and director Taika Waititi.

“Are you kidding me? My children are huge fans,” she said. “My desire to be in Thor, even as a supernumerary, was driven by the desire to speak the same language as my children. And to work with Taika and Chris of course.”

The part required an intensive fitness programme, the 48-year-old told So It Goes magazine. “I relish the chance to get fit,” she said.

“The routine, unfortunately, looked exactly the same on a good day as it did on a bad day! Fortunately, Luke [Zocchi, her trainer] is hilarious and could do me in 20 minutes … said the actress to the bishop!”

With many British actors in Marvel films — including Anthony Hopkins as Odin and Idris Elba as Heimdall in the latest Thor — Blanchett said: “The comics are written with a tongue-in-cheek old English feel, so perhaps it was inevitable Marvel went to a master of English language storytelling in Ken [Branagh] to direct the first Thor film [in 2011].

“So I don’t know if it’s much about the British taking over Marvel franchises — let’s remember Taika’s from New Zealand and Chris and I are from Australia — but rather Marvel gravitating towards actors and directors who have both heft and a wicked wit.” The film is released next Friday.

Blanchett, who lives in East Sussex, claimed acting was still seen as elitist in her homeland, which was perhaps why many in the arts chose to move abroad.

“We are a nation of intensely curious people who are, for better or worse, outward-looking. Coupled with the fact that in Australia (and globally) participating in artistic pursuits is considered to be elitist, so those who work in the arts feel a constant need to apologise, that means people often seek work elsewhere.”

The two-time Academy Award winner said of her gongs: “The experience of winning one is otherworldly.
“When a room full of people you greatly admire stands up for you and not because they need to go to the bathroom… it’s indescribable.

“If you think you deserve to be there any more than the other nominees that would be foolhardy.”

via Evening Standard