In 1998, Cate Blanchett captured Hollywood’s attention under the direction of Indian film director and producer Shekhar Kapur, starring in Elizabeth.
Cate headlined the film about the early years of Elizabeth I’s reign in England, alongside Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Christopher Eccleston, Vincent Cassel, Richard Attenborough, Daniel Craig, and many more.
In the film, we see Cate as Elizabeth, who assumes the throne after the deaths of her father, Henry VIII, and her sister, Mary, Queen of England, in 1558.
The film premiered on September 8, 1998, at the Venice International Film Festival after only 45 days of filming.
Elizabeth initially appears innocent and immature upon assuming the throne, but she must legitimize her power by battling various conspiracies, betrayals, and assassination attempts, not only because she is a crowned queen, but also because she was raised Protestant and must now rule Catholic subjects.
The theatrical release of Elizabeth was a resounding success, grossing $82 million, far exceeding its $25 million budget.
Elizabeth was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Cinematography, Best Original Score, Best Production Design, and Best Costume Design, but only won for Best Makeup.
Although the Academy did not recognize her as she deserved, Cate Blanchett won the Golden Globe, the BAFTA, the Critics’ Choice Awards, the Chicago Film Critics Association Award, and the Satellite Awards, definitively placing her in the public eye.