Cate Blanchett Reveals Past Bisexual Relationships With Women Promoting ‘Carol’

Cate Blanchett opened up about her sexuality while discussing that of her character in her latest film Carol, in which she stars in the titular role.

Cate Blanchett On Bisexual Relationships

In Carol, Blachett’s character falls in love with a younger woman, a department store clerk played by Rooney Mara, in the 1950s. When asked if Carol marks Blanchett’s first turn as a lesbian, the Oscar-winning actress asked, “On film — or in real life?”

When asked to clarify whether or not she’d ever had romantic or sexual relationships with women in the past, Blanchett responded, “Yes. Many times.” The famously private actress, while admitting to past relationships with women, declined to talk further on the subject in her interview with Variety.

As for her character, Blanchett didn’t necessarily use her own dating history to inform her performance. Instead, she said, “I read a lot of girl-on-girl books from the period.”

In Patricia Highsmith’s book, The Price of Salt, on which Carol is based, the main character doesn’t ever necessarily come out as a lesbian. Whatever Carol personally identifies as is no matter to Blanchett. “I never thought about it,” Blanchett said. “I don’t think Carol thought about it.”

Blanchett has been married to playwright Andrew Upton since 1997. Together, they have four children.