She’d always been interested in expanding her brood beyond her three boys, affirming that “if it happens, it would be great”. But she was never in a rush.
Now, actress Cate Blanchett has decided to take matters into her own hands by adopting a baby girl. The Australian beauty and her husband Andrew Upton (49) say that they were “thrilled” to introduce the new addition, who they have named Edith Vivian Patricia, to their sons, Dashiell (13), Roman (10) and Ignatius (6).
Cate’s gorgeous baby Edith didn’t say “boo” on her first flight from America to Australia.
After finalising the adoption, the Blue Jasmine star brought Edith, who is believed to be a US citizen, back home to Sydney, coincidentally on the same flight as her friend Russell Crowe and comedian Chris Rock. “The Qantas staff ushered them through security and Cate had to remove the baby’s wrap,” a fellow passenger aboard the flight observed.
“The baby seemed very relaxed and didn’t say ‘boo’ the whole time.” It’s not clear at this stage if Cate (45) filed the paperwork in Australia, but the country’s adoption process is notoriously difficult, with waiting times in some states lasting as long as four years. In the US, the law requires adoptees to have residency or citizenship, which Cate qualifies for as she’s half-American through her Texas-born father Robert.
The actress’ husband of 17 years, Andrew Upton, is said to be “thrilled” to have a girl.
Close friend Deborra-Lee Furness, wife of actor Hugh Jackman, was one of the first to share her congratulations, saying, “We wish them all the best and much love for their new life together.” Hugh and Deborra-Lee adopted son Oscar Maximillian and daughter Ava Eliot after Deborra-Lee suffered two miscarriages.
She founded the organisation Adopt Change to improve the laborious adoption process in Australia.
Cate feels pressure from other mums at school to act more like a celebrity.
Cate will certainly have her hands full with the new addition. An award-winning performer, who has also worked as artistic co-director for Sydney Theatre Company alongside Andrew, she’s spoken previously about her “demented” life with three boys. The Oscar winner admits to having felt intimidated by the “mummy mafia” in the past at her local Hunters Hill primary school.
Despite being worth an estimated $61 million, Cate doesn’t have the assistance of hired help and feels judged by other parents for not acting more “celebrity”. “You know the other mums are observing how you parent,” she confides.
“They don’t know how you cram everything in to make space for your kids, like any working parent. The fact is, I don’t, but there is a certain circle of people – and we all get insecure – who then ask, ‘Why can’t she brush her hair?’ You just have to shrug it off.”
Having her sons has also made Cate aware of the kinds of stories being told in Hollywood. Conscious of the number of superhero films in the mass market today, she was thrilled to be involved in the remake of Cinderella, in cinemas on March 26, because she says it is important to connect men with female-centric stories.
Reading her three boys fairytales is important to Cate, who feels Hollywood makes too many male-centric movies.
“I still read my sons Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. I love fairytales because they deal with really complex issues that face children,” she explains. “I think boys get socialised out of connecting with female characters in the storybook landscape.
When they are younger, they don’t really identify with characters simply because of gender – it’s more their plight. There is an everyman quality in what Cinderella endures and what she survives.” No doubt it’s only a matter of time before Edith sees her mum in action too!
