Cate Blanchett first worked professionally in the theatre, her first love. She explored her passion for acting while she was studying at Methodist Ladies’ College where she became the school drama captain. Not long after graduating from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA) she starred in plays with the Sydney Theatre Company and Griffin Theatre Company where she got her breakout roles in theatre and made her the first actor to win the Sydney Theatre Critic Awards for Best Newcomer (for Kafka Dances) and Best Lead Actress (for Oleanna) in the same year.

In theatre, she was directed by Liv Ullmann, Tamás Ascher, Katie Mitchell, Robyn Nevin, Benedict Andrews, Michael Gow, Neil Armfield. She has also directed plays for the Sydney Theatre Company while she was the co-artistic and co-CEO with her husband, Andrew Upton.

For her stage performances, she earned a Tony nomination (The Present), four Helpmann Awards and Sydney Theatre Awards.

She is a patron of the Sydney Theatre Company, and joined the National Theatre Board in 2024.