Cate Blanchett Accuses Hollywood Of Quickly Dismissing #Metoo

The Actress's Bold Claims at Cannes

Cate Blanchett, renowned for her powerful performances and advocacy for gender equality, has made a striking statement at the Cannes Film Festival. She suggested Hollywood swiftly stifled the #MeToo movement, a cause she has passionately supported. Addressing attendees on Sunday, Blanchett expressed her dismay over the movement losing steam in the entertainment world.

“It got killed very quickly, which I think is interesting,” Blanchett stated.

Blanchett questioned the discrepancy between those with significant platforms and the voices of the everyday public. She criticized how the movement seemed to be quickly silenced despite the overwhelming support from both celebrities and ordinary people. "There are a lot of people with platforms who are able to speak up with relative safety and say this has happened to me," she noted. "And the so-called average woman on the street, person on the street, is saying MeToo. Why does that get shut down?"

Gender Imbalance On Set

Blanchett highlighted the persisting gender disparities in film production. Her observations about the unequal gender representation on set provide a stark reminder of the ongoing battles in the industry. "I’m still on film sets and I do the headcount every day. There’s 10 women and there’s 75 men every morning," she revealed. While she expressed admiration for her male colleagues, she called for a change. "I love men, but what happens is the jokes become the same. You just have to brace yourself slightly, and I’m used to that, but it just gets boring for everybody when you walk into a homogeneous workplace."

A History of Advocacy

Cate Blanchett's commitment to gender parity is well-documented. In 2018, she led a memorable red-carpet protest at Cannes with over 80 women, including Jane Fonda, Salma Hayek, Amber Heard, and Marion Cotillard. This demonstration highlighted the stark disparity in the selection of female directors versus male directors in the festival's lineup. Blanchett, alongside acclaimed director Agnes Varda, issued a statement: "As women, we all face our own unique challenges, but we stand together on these stairs today as a symbol of our determination and commitment to progress."

Her sentiments were echoed by Julianne Moore at the Cannes Film Festival. Moore recounted her experience on predominantly male film sets, marking a significant but slow shift toward better gender representation in the industry. "I can remember being on a set not too long ago where the only women were me and the third AC [assistant camera]," she said during a Kering Women in Motion talk. "It’s when Hillary Clinton lost the election, and we were both devastated. And I said ‘Look around the room. We’re the only ones here.’ I’ve certainly seen more gender representation in crews. It was unusual, when I was coming up, to see women on a crew.”

Blanchett and Moore's powerful voices continue to resonate, urging for sustained change and greater gender equality in Hollywood and beyond.