As widely reported in the Indian press, Cate wrapped up her three day stay in India last week with these observations on Bollywood, the term used to refer to the Indian film industry, one of the biggest in the world:

"Despite the American colonisation, India has managed to retain its unique, vibrant and colourful cinema," said Blanchett. Giving an example of her own country, Australia, Blanchett said American cinema was dominant world-wide because of their "money and quantity."

Speaking of her own fascination with Indian masala movies with their unending song and dance routines, Blanchett had joked at her Friday press conference that she was awaiting offers from Bollywood. But many at the conference, took her seriously and asked about likely film ventures in Mumbai.
"The next time I say something like that I'll wear a big grin, so everyone will know I'm joking," she quipped.

Regarding the censorship furor surrounding "Elizabeth" in India: "It would be frustrating for an actor to see his film being exhibited in any other way than it was meant to be seen."

As to the examination of her performance in the film: "A woman's performance is always analysed in terms of how she has appeared. I find it difficult to understand this," she complains.

Working with Kapur, who left on Elizabeth the indelible stamp of Bollywood, was an unusual but enjoyable experience for her. "I would describe working with Shekhar as an inspiring, challenging, hilarious and even strangely reductive experience," she recalls. What clinched the film for her was Kapur's "Bandit Queen" which she saw in three instalments because she couldn't take its grit all at once.

If you have ever had the chance to see the amazing "Bandit Queen", then you will sympathize with Cate. This true-life tale is downright harrowing at times, and not for the weak-minded.
And, the last word we heard was that Kapur had caved in and agreed to make the three cuts in the film that had been requested. We'll have to respect his authority and decision to do what he thinks best.

News Update

After it was reported in the Indian press that Kapur had agreed to make edits of Elizabeth to appease the Indian Board of Censors, those reports appear to be erroneous in that Shekhar has, as of today, thrown down the gauntlet!

Director Shekhar Kapur has challenged the chairman of India's Central Board of Film Certification to a public debate over the board's demands that cuts be made in Kapur's award-winning film Elizabeth. Kapur has spurned the demands and has been battling the board's chairman, Asha Parekh, and her colleagues in the news media.

In an open letter to Parekh, released Wednesday, Kapur accuses Parekh of being "ignorant, irresponsible, arrogant and arbitrary. ... I deliberately use such strong words because it is time for a public debate on the criteria by which persons are chosen and empowered to impose moral strictures on the people of India." We will keep you posted on further developments.

EDINBURGH, HERE WE COME

As we reported earlier, Pushing Tin will be screening at the Edinburgh Film Festival on August 24, and the word out of Europe is that both Cate and John Cussack will be in attendance for the bash.

It makes sense to show up at this particular function, for the Edinburgh Film Fest is rapidly gaining a reputation for really knowing how to throw a soiree in conjunction with a film screening. Some events have already approached legendary status.

Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta-Jones played host to the Entrapment bash, where Malaysian themed canapés were served on banana leaves by saronged waitresses at Prestonfield House.

Pierce Brosnan's Thomas Crown Affair get together is also widely anticipated. As for PT, with Cate and John to play hosts, who needs chow? But, the film fest days have definitely changed. No more crackers and cheese. Nowadays the successful Scottish party is measured in bushels of roses, kilos of Loch Fyne oysters, jeroboams of champagne and $150,000 catering bills. Sounds like fun to us!

CAMERA OBSCURA

This is an odd little item we picked up from the August 10 edition of the Independent UK called " Presents for the powerful."

Want to surprise a star? Laurel Ives knows a couple who can help HOLLYWOOD celebrities might earn millions of dollars, go to all the best parties and get to wear the most gorgeous designer frocks - but, apparently, this is not enough. They need to be given presents as well -

Of course, movie executives are too busy to buy the presents themselves. So they call on shoppers extraordinaire Cynde Cassel and Marnie Lerner. Since they set up their business, Star Treatment, three years ago, the pair have sent presents to, among others, Gwyneth Paltrow, Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer. When Cate Blanchett landed an Oscar nomination for Elizabeth, the pair sent her a tiny camera concealed in an Armani bag so that she could record the award ceremony.

Now, they don't go on to say whether or not Cate actually played "The Spy Who F-Stopped Me" or not. Those would certainly be some fun pix/vids to view, dontcha think? Felicity Blanchett...Yeah, Baby, Yeah!!

THE WINNER, BY A NOSE

This is from the "I Can Hardly Believe It" Dept. First we had the Cate's mouth vs. Bridgette Bardot's mouth poll, and now Cate's nose makes the news. Is it just us, or do Cate's body parts get an unusual amount of press?

This story written by Jackie Burdon, titled NOSE JOBS GIVEN THE SNIP, actually ran last week in the London Times, not some silly tabloid, and it went something like this:

Distinguished noses are back in fashion for women in Hollywood, thanks to the popularity of actresses with strong features, a health magazine has claimed. Cosmetic surgeons are carrying out less nose reductions and there are rumours some celebrities have even sought to have their surgery reversed.

"Cate Blanchett, Jennifer Aniston, Sarah Jessica Parker and Gwyneth Paltrow weren't exactly at the back of the queue when the Almighty was handing out the schnozzles," Zest magazine said.

Dr Maurizio Viel of the London Centre for Aesthetic Surgery has been researching trends in cosmetic procedures. He said: "Rhinoplasty is noticeably less popular now than it was 10 or 20 years ago, and if women do want surgery on their nose, they want a less dramatic change.

"Now the trend is for a normal-shaped nose - refined and straight but certainly not petite. "These days, women still want to look like themselves." Anthropologist Desmond Morris said he believes that Diana, Princess of Wales may have led the trend. But American Vogue has said it's all down to the natural look, which is the latest cosmetic fad for women.

"Cate wasn't at the back of the queue"??? How dare they!! Oh well, if Cate helps women feel good about themselves, and get away from the trend of turning themselves into fembots, that HAS to be a good thing.

A VERY SELF-ISH "INTERVIEW"

Regular readers of our Cate News might remember a story we did in early July regarding a rather notorious Cate interview done by Will Self. Here's a refresher in case you missed it:

WILL POWER

One story making a bit of a stir over the past week has to do with an "interview" of our Cate as conducted by the infamous author, Will Self.

As The London Times commented: Readers of last weekend's Independent on Sunday magazine cover story, billed as "Will Self meets Cate Blanchett", may have felt a little cheated by finding that in three separate encounters, including one of "several hours", the actress spoke only 76 words which the novelist deemed worth reproducing - obliging him to fill the rest of the article with riveting Proustian soliloquies on why he had initially formed the mistaken impression that she was short.

Thanks to his day job as a somewhat eccentric interviewer, journalists assigned to pen profiles of outlaw novelist Will Self now have guidance from the author himself on the kind of ratio of interviewee's words (virtually none) to interviewer's thoughts (as abundant and extravagant as possible) to aim for in the resulting article.

We are attempting to track down a copy of said "interview". We will keep you posted on the results.

Well, thanks to our very own Dean, the results are now in, and we must say this is just about as strange as it comes. Over the past year or so, we have seen in the course of our Cate research just about every word ever written on the subject of our Cate...and then came Will Self.

We are now going to offer you this "interview" in its entirety, however, nothing you have seen before will prepare you for the obsession with size you are about to encounter. Self's piece is bizarre, it is hilarious, it deserves an introduction by Rod Serling, it is not of this world, it is an instant classic. Never again will we look at Cate without taking into account her "bigness".

"Submitted for your approval...Shape-Shifter By Will Self

. On that most peculiar note, we will say adieu. And, due to the fact that we are stuck contemplating whether someone of Cate's physical stature should be dancing, we are going to refrain from advising that we play a Volta this week. Better to error on the side of caution. See you next time.