Cate Blanchett, a two-time Oscar winner, fondly recalled her experience working on The Talented Mr. Ripley during a candid discussion at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF). As part of the festival’s ‘In Conversation With…’ series, the 55-year-old actress opened up about her career and shared behind-the-scenes memories from the 1999 psychological thriller based on Patricia Highsmith’s novel.
Blanchett, addressing a full house at the Royal Alexandra Theatre on Sunday, Sept. 8, during a 90-minute talk with TIFF CEO Cameron Bailey, described The Talented Mr. Ripley as one of her most enjoyable projects. “It was one of my best jobs,” she said, reflecting on the film’s storyline about con artist Tom Ripley (played by Matt Damon) infiltrating the lives of the wealthy Dickie Greenleaf (Jude Law) and his girlfriend Marge Sherwood (Gwyneth Paltrow).
Set against the stunning backdrop of Italy, Blanchett recalled the unique experience of filming in the country. “We had the best summer,” she said, sharing stories of her time with the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. “We went to a place called Fashion Pizza, ate a lot of pizza, and I ended up staying in Matt’s fabulous apartment.” She jokingly added that while Damon trained every day at the Four Seasons, she got to relax and enjoy her luxurious accommodations.
Blanchett, known for her wit and humor, lightened the atmosphere with jokes throughout the conversation. When Bailey mentioned showing clips from her past films like The Aviator, she quipped, “Is there a barf bucket?” to the audience’s amusement. “These things are not meant to be watched back,” she added with a laugh.
Beyond reminiscing about The Talented Mr. Ripley, Blanchett was at TIFF to promote two new projects: Apple TV+’s limited series Disclaimer and the dark comedy film Rumours. In Disclaimer, Blanchett plays Catherine Ravenscroft, an investigative journalist whose life unravels after receiving an anonymous manuscript that exposes her long-held secret. The series also stars Sacha Baron Cohen and Kevin Kline.
In Rumours, Blanchett portrays a fictional German chancellor who attends a G7 summit that quickly spirals into chaos. Game of Thrones star Charles Dance plays the President of the United States in the political satire.
During the wide-ranging conversation, Blanchett, who shares four children with her husband, screenwriter Andrew Upton, was candid and relaxed, frequently cracking jokes and offering a glimpse into her vibrant personality off-screen. As she continues to deliver remarkable performances in new projects, fans and critics alike eagerly await the next chapter in her extraordinary career.