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Starlet Sez, 'I Am Not Cate Blanchett'; Cate Blanchett Sez, 'No Shit'
Posted by Clem Bastow at 3:48 PM on February 22, 2008
Look, we know what it's like to try and make it in this heady world of show business; we've seen 42nd Street and A Star Is Born, we know how it all works.
So, we know that when you're a starlet trying to get a leg up, you take what you can get - we're just not sure that going about it the way Jessica Marais has is the way to go:
Rising actress Jessica Marais has shunned walking in the shadow of Hollywood star Cate Blanchett, demanding to be known only on her own merits.Sooo... they went to the same acting school at different times, and when said school wanted to raise some funds, it sold off some old costumes, which happened to include gear worn - separately - by both actresses.Comparisons between the National Institute of Dramatic Art graduates began to fly after Marais's costume from her final stage production Sweet Charity joined a selection of Blanchett's memorabilia archived at the prestigious school more than 16 years ago.
While the South African-born beauty is flattered by the rare storage move and being dubbed the next Blanchett, she's also aware it could be the kiss of death.
"I want to be the next Jessica Marais not Cate Blanchett," the 23-year-old said this week.
"It detracts from what is unique about you, which is how you get the role."
At which point did people go from that information to "the new Cate Blanchett"? Admittedly this is equally the fault of the press as much as it is Marais herself, but still.
We're going to adopt this immediately as our new personal PR campaign; just pick a famous person you are not actually being compared to, and then complain about being compared to them.
To wit: "Could people please stop saying Defamer Australia is the next New York Times? We'd prefer to be judged on our own exceptional merits."
Comments
Ben
Posted February 22, 2008 10:44 PM
No real mystery here. The journalist would have brought it up in the interview.
"So, Jessica. How do you feel about being called the next Cate Blanchett?"
You can't be held responsible for the questions people ask you.
JT
Posted April 6, 2008 11:51 PM
I agree with Ben's comment - the answer as to why Marais made the comment was quite clear.
Jess Marais has been compared to Cate Blanchette by the media and public, and it is not something she has conjured up herself. To my knowledge, Cate Blanchette was also compared to Judy Davis when she graduated from NIDA - and she managed to be individual and stand on her own.
People know a star when they see one - they are the people that turn heads when they walk in a room, who make you stop in awe as they enter the stage, who make you see a movie and believe that these characters are real. Jess Marais, like many other graduates from NIDA, happens to be one of those people.
It was wrong of the writer, Clem Bastow, to make such comments without proper facts and thought. It would be interesting to know if the writer of this article has ever met Marais or seen her perform, as she would understand why Marais is gaining the media and publics attention.
This article is a bit more like a trashy "new weekly" dig, then an intellectual insight which could feature in the New York Times!
The truth is simple:
Jess Marais is not walking over Cate's bridge, she is standing next to it, building her own.
Alex
Posted July 1, 2008 7:13 PM
Jess is lovely, and one of the most talented artists I have ever seen. She is also one of my best friends. She is magnetic when you watch her act or sing. The article headline is to attract attention, she is compared to Blanchette because she is as gorgeous and as talented. She is tipped to be Australia's next big movie star for a reason. She is just a girl -leave her alone, enough of this tall poppies syndrome! Its just too pathetic.
Oh, and does everyone not realize that journo's take things out of context?