Oscar winner Cate Blanchett said she finds it "quite disturbing" that eight years after the #MeToo movement began, there has been no significant change.
In an interview with Porter magazine, Blanchett (55) reflected on her involvement in the "Time's Up" initiative, which was created to support victims of sexual harassment after the revelations about Harvey Weinstein.
"Everyone talks about the #MeToo movement as if it's long over. And I think - well, honestly, it never really took root. People have tried to dismantle and discredit voices that were just starting to come out of the darkness into the light. It disturbs me how little has changed," the actress said.
Blanchett is preparing for her role in the play "The Seagull," which will be performed at the Barbican in London, and revealed that she found inspiration in her co-star Emma Corrin, as well as Marisa Abela from "Back to Black," with whom she stars in Steven Soderbergh's upcoming film "The Black Bag."
"Their perspective on a scene will, of course, be completely different from mine or someone from my generation. I am amazed not only by the strength of their views, but also by the technical skill they possess in ways that I could not have dreamed of at their age," Blanchett said.
In 2018, Blanchett was one of many who spoke out publicly about Harvey Weinstein, with whom she collaborated on the films "The Talented Mr. Ripley," "Carol," and "The Aviator."
When asked if Weinstein had ever been inappropriate towards her, Blanchett replied: "Yes, he was to me."
"I think he, like most predators, primarily targeted vulnerable people. I had a bad feeling about him from the beginning. He often told me, 'We are not friends,'" she added.
Weinstein is currently awaiting a retrial in New York after a court overturned his 2020 conviction for sexual assault and rape of two women. He was also convicted of rape in Los Angeles in 2022 and sentenced to 16 years in prison. His lawyers have also appealed that verdict.
Blanchett was last nominated for an Oscar two years ago for "Tár," and last won the prestigious award in 2014 for Woody Allen's "Blue Jasmine." She also won the Oscar for best supporting actress for her performance in Martin Scorsese's 2004 film "The Aviator."
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