Cate Blanchett was stunned when she learned Woody Allen wanted her to star in Blue Jasmine because she was convinced her film career was over after leaving Hollywood to concentrate on theatre in Australia.
The Australian star is the hot favourite to land the Best Actress Oscar next month, but she admits she feared her movie days were over after she joined husband Andrew Upton on the board of the Sydney Theatre Company (STC).
Following her BAFTA Best Actress win in London, Blanchett told the press: "It was incredibly unexpected, I've been working in the Sydney theatre with my husband for the last six years, and I thought I didn't have a film career to return to. Actress years are incredibly short, so it was a great surprise to get the call."
Blanchett and Upton announced plans to step down as STC artistic directors last year. The couple took over creative control of the ailing theatre group in 2009.
