Cate Blanchett denies having same-sex relationships

Cate Blanchett has said she has never had sexual relations with a woman, after being quoted as saying she had had “many” same-sex relationships in the past.

The Australian actress made the original comments to Variety magazine while promoting her new film Carol, co-starring Rooney Mara, which explores a lesbian relationship in 1950s New York.

Blanchett was asked if playing the title role in the romantic period drama was her first turn as a lesbian.

“On film – or in real life?” the 45-year-old asked coyly. Pressed on whether she had ever had relationship with a woman, the Elizabeth star replied: “Yes. Many times,” though didn’t elaborate further.

At a news conference the next day however (May 14), the Elizabeth star was quick to refute rumours that she was bisexual, implying that the quotes had been taken out of context.

“From memory, the conversation ran, ‘Have you had relationships with women?’ And I said, ‘Yes, many times.’ If you mean I’ve had sexual relationships with them, the answer is ‘No,'” she explained.

“But that obviously didn’t make it to print.”

The journalist who who conducted the interview, Ramin Setoodeh, denied the accusations, however, tweeting: “When I asked Cate Blanchett if she’d had lesbian relationships in real life, she said: ‘Many times.’ She was accurately quoted.”

In the same conference, Blanchett – who has four children with her screenwriter husband Andrew Upton – went on to say that regardless of whether she’d had relationships with women or not, “in 2015, the point should be: Who cares?”

She continued to say it would be “very foolish” not to think that the world remains “deeply conservative” when it comes to the issue homosexuality.

“There are 70 countries around the world where homosexuality is still illegal so it still seems to be an issue,” she said.

“I think what often happens these days, if you are homosexual, you have to talk about it constantly; it has to be the only thing you put before your work and any other aspect of your personality.’

“We are living in deeply conservative times. If you think otherwise, you’re very foolish.”

Carol, which is based on Patricia Highsmith’s 1952 novel The Price of Salt, follows the story of a young woman in her 20s working as a department-store clerk (played by Rooney Mara) who falls for an older, married woman (Blanchett).

Helmed by Far from Heaven director Todd Hynes, the film will compete for the coveted Palme d’Or at the 68th Cannes Film Festival this week, following an expected worldwide release later in the year.

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