Cate Blanchet, the star of "The Aviator" fame, clarified during a press conference in Cannes Film Festival 2015 that she is not a lesbian and never had any sexual relationship with a woman. The statement has once and for all put to rest the slew of rumors about the sexual orientation of the actress from past few days.
The 46-year-old Oscar winning actress was speaking about her upcoming movie "Carol" in a press meeting when she was quizzed about her recent interview given to Variety which triggered the rumours.
"From memory, the conversation ran: 'Have you had relationships with women?' And I said: 'Yes, many times. Do you mean have I had sexual relationships with women? Then the answer is no" recalled the headline making interview, following which the actress was criticized for giving false information about her personal life as a publicity stunt for the promotion of her upcoming movie "Carol," The Guardian reported.
While the Australian actress claimed that her statement was not quoted properly and it was taken out of context, the editor of Variety, Ramin Setoodeh, clarified that Blanchett was exactly quoted and there was no wrongful reporting.
"When I asked Cate Blanchett if she'd had lesbian relationships in real life, she said: "Many times." She was accurately quoted," tweeted the Setoodeh, who had conducted the controversial interview.
Meanwhile, "Carol's" screening in Cannes was received with biggest and loudest standing ovation so far. The movie is not only likely to win this year's Palme' d'Or with five-star review across the board, it is also expected to bag a few Oscars nominations this year as well.
Todd Hayne's directed project is an adaptation of Patricia Highsmith's "The Price of Salt," which is about the affair between a married mother and a shop assistant, set in early 1950s New York. Blanchett also disclosed in the conference that she read numerous lesbian novels written during 1950s to grasp the mental situation of her character.