‘We need to be f**king scared!’ Cate Blanchett discusses global warming, parenting in the digital age and being Adele’s style icon as she graces the cover of PORTER

She’s never been afraid to be outspoken on issues of importance. 

And, Cate Blanchett discussed global warming, parenting in the digital age and being superstar singer Adele’s style icon, as she graced the cover of PORTER magazine. 

The actress, 52, who is a doting mum to four children – Edith, six, Ignatius, 13, Roman, 17, and Dashiell, 19, with husband Andrew Upton, 55 – insisted that she feels ‘responsible for the landscape’ they will emerge into.

Real talk: Cate Blanchett, 52, discussed global warming, parenting in the digital age and being Adele’s style icon as she graced the cover of PORTER magazine 

Cate detailed how much social media comes up in conversations with her kids, saying: ‘So much of our so-called information comes through social media.

‘I’m old enough to have been taught at school what a primary, secondary and tertiary source is. I say to the children when they mention something, “Where did you read it? Who has [authenticated] that? You have to learn how to read an image and article. And if you’re going to share something, you’d better make sure you have checked the sources.”

‘Of course, they roll their eyes. But when you hear them talk to their friends, I think they’re responsible. My son is studying physics and philosophy, so he is really interesting to talk to about [technology].

‘I don’t want to become a separated generation, because I also feel responsible for the landscape he is about to emerge into as an adult.’ 

Mum: The star, who shares Edith, six, Ignatius, 13, Roman, 17, and Dashiell, 19, with husband Andrew Upton, 55, insisted that she feels ‘responsible for the landscape’ they will emerge into

Candid: Elsewhere, Cate touched on the environmental matters that inform her upcoming film Don’t Look Up, insisting: ‘We need to be f**king scared… and demand change’

Elsewhere, Cate touched on the environmental matters that inform her upcoming film Don’t Look Up, in which she plays a news anchor named Brie Evantee.

The actress said: ‘Everyone is trying to be positive, talking about 1.5 degrees of global warming. But 1.5 would still be disastrous.

‘We need to be f**king scared… and demand change. Be collectively courageous enough to face that fear and do something about it.’   

Don’t Look Up is a boisterous satire from writer/director Adam McKay, about two astronomers (played by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Lawrence) who try to warn mankind about an approaching comet that will destroy Earth.   

In character: Cate plays a news anchor named Brie Evantee in Don’t Look Up (Pictured)

Politics matters: Cate also discussed whether she believes populist leaders could see a resurgence, and explained how she talks to her children about hope and change

Cate also discussed whether she believes populist leaders could see a resurgence, and explained how she talks to her children about hope and change.

She insisted: ‘That’s why people have to vote. And exercise their power. I’m sounding like I’m on a soapbox, which I’m not interested in, but it’s important to not give in. I’m not giving up hope.

‘As I say to my kids [on climate change], if we’re going out, how do we choose to go out? It’s a terrible conversation to have with your 13-year-old, isn’t it?

‘But anyway. We do laugh around the dinner table. That’s what’s good about Adam’s film. You have to laugh.’ 

Apocalyptic! Of how it felt to be in a scene alongside Leonardo Dicaprio, Jennifer Lawrence, Meryl Streep, Mark Rylance and Jonah Hill, Cate explained: ‘It did feel like a Last Supper’

Speaking of her character in the Don’t Look Up – a model of artificiality with bleached blond hair, blinding white teeth and impossibly bronzed skin – Cate said: ‘Actually, it’s a revolting moment when you wash that makeup off and you see the sludge going [down the drain]. It’s quite confronting.’

A pivotal scene in the film brings together five Oscar winners and one Oscar nominee: Cate, Leo, Jennifer, Meryl Streep, Mark Rylance and Jonah Hill.

Speaking about how it felt to be in that room, Cate explained: ‘It did feel like a Last Supper’ (but noted how was less a measure of the stars and more of the strict COVID-19 protocols in place and the film’s apocalyptic plotline).

Stylish! In a recent interview for Vogue, Adele referenced Cate as ‘her style icon’, to which Blanchett told PORTER ‘I was absolutely chuffed!’

Still, Cate confessed that getting high-five Meryl ‘was great.’

Fun with fashion: As for her own style icons, Cate cites Iris Apfel and Fran Lebowitz, while her penchant for fashion can be traced back to her early years playing dress-up with her sister

In a recent interview for Vogue, Adele referenced Cate as ‘her style icon’, to which Blanchett told PORTER how she felt when she found out.

She gushed: ‘I was absolutely chuffed! I think she is amazing. So down to earth. Our paths crossed when she came to Australia on tour.’

As for her own style icons, Cate cites Iris Apfel and Fran Lebowitz, while her penchant for fashion – and acting – can be traced back to her early years playing dress-up with her sister.

Cate recalled: ‘My sister would dress me up and I would pretend to be whatever the costume told me to be.’

Meaningful: Elsewhere in her Chat with the publication, Cate revealed how she is drawn to films that ‘ask provocative questions’ and getting behind causes she believes in

Elsewhere in her Chat with the publication, Cate revealed how she is drawn to films that ‘ask provocative questions’ and getting behind causes she believes in.

However, she prefers discussions about the work and not to be caught soapboxing, insisting: ‘I couldn’t be less interested in agitprop [or] telling people what to think.’

The actress added of being publicly outspoken: ‘You have to be judicious. I’ve been asked to do things by people and I’ve said, “I think I’m going to be a liability”. 

‘I’m very sad about the loss of genuine debate. Where leaders, public intellectuals and everyday citizens try to find common ground, try to understand the issue, rather than try to win…

‘Even in acting, people talk about [how] to ‘win’ the scene. No, we have to make the scene come alive. And we might have to lose a bit here, win a bit there.’  

To see the full interview with Cate Blanchett, read PORTER or download the NET-A-PORTER app for iPhone, iPad and Android. 

Real all about it: To see the full interview with Cate Blanchett, read PORTER or download the NET-A-PORTER app for iPhone, iPad and Android

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