Cate Blanchett opens up about battling imposter syndrome

The imposter syndrome — the feeling that you're not good enough and that everyone will eventually see through you — is a common phenomenon in creative industries.

Actress Cate Blanchett faced this experience early in her career, and the role that made her famous almost pushed her to quit everything, CE Report quotes Kosova Press.

Although we know her today for her performances in masterpieces like Carol, Tár, and The Lord of the Rings series, Blanchett, like many other talents from Australia, doubted whether she would ever break into Hollywood.

The turning point came in 1998 with the film Elizabeth, in which she was given the opportunity to embody the legendary Queen Elizabeth I of England.

It was the kind of role that young actors can only dream of — a career-launching opportunity — and Blanchett ended up receiving an Oscar nomination.

The film follows the queen’s rise to the throne and her early reign, and the responsibility of portraying such a significant historical figure seemed overwhelming for a newcomer.

“If I had known how big a moment it would be, I would have collapsed under the pressure. I kept telling myself: Judi Dench, Flora Robson, Glenda Jackson… What could I possibly add to this history? The fact that the director was Shekhar Kapur from Bollywood and I was from Australia, from the colonies, only worsened my arrogance,” she admitted.

“We were two newcomers dealing with Elizabethan history — a period that shapes so much of the English national dream. Who am I to intervene? How shameless! I think the only way I got through it was by telling myself: ‘This is both the beginning and the end of my career.’ I honestly thought: ‘This is it, so at least I can enjoy the process,’” she added.

The film earned a Golden Globe for Best Actress and Blanchett’s first Oscar nomination, while also helping her break into Hollywood. Nine years later, the film was followed by a sequel, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, which was also successful.