Blanchett was given the Longford Lyell Award for outstanding contribution to Australian screen at the AACTA awards ceremony in Sydney on Wednesday and took the opportunity to call for more Australian actors to be cast.
"It needs to be fought for," she said.
Backstage, Blanchett said the Australian industry should be celebrated for being small and unique, and should stop trying to emulate other industries around the world.
The leading lights of Australia's entertainment industry are being celebrated tonight with the #AACTA awards.Who's expected to be the big winner tonight? Posted by SBS News on Wednesday, December 9, 2015
"I love this industry so deeply and am so very proud to be a part of it that it always pains me so much that we talk ourselves down," Blanchett said.
"We are a small industry and that's a virtue, I think it makes us unique."
Another Kate was awarded on the night, British actress Kate Winslet who won best lead actress for her role in The Dressmaker.
The Dressmaker also won the people's choice film of the year, while Mad Max:Fury Road picked up the two big gongs: best director and best film.
Michael Caton won his first AACTA for best actor for his part in Last Cab To Darwin while Hugo Weaving picked up best supporting actor for The Dressmaker.
The big winner in TV was the miniseries about the late entertainer, Peter Allen: The Boy Next Door.
The Seven Network show picked up several gongs including best telefeature or miniseries and best supporting actress, which went to Sigrid Thornton.
Fourteen-year-old Ky Baldwin won best supporting actor for his role as the young Allen. Miller was given his best director gong by his original Max, Mel Gibson, who is back in town to make his film Hacksaw Ridge. "It's great to be back," he said.
