“We’ll be at home in Australia, which isn’t the traditional snowy setting so it’ll be a barbecue instead of the traditional turkey dinner.” CATE BLANCHETT is spending the holidays in her native country with her family.

BLANCHETT'S CHRISTMAS TRICKS FOR HER KIDS

Australian actress CATE BLANCHETT is determined to make sure her kids keep believing in Santa Claus - and she makes a mammoth effort every year to prove he's real.
The Elizabeth star has three sons with her screenwriter husband Andrew Upton - Dashiell, eight, Roman, five, and Ignatius, 18 months.
Blanchett admits she loves making Christmas special for her kids, and she goes all out to reinforce their belief in Santa.
She says, "We get up to all kinds of fun at Christmas. We always feed Santa Claus - that's a big tradition. I put my reindeer socks on and sprinkle flour so it looks like the reindeer have come down. But you do have that sense that you only have a few years before the kids say, 'You're lying to me!'"

He wants this so badly, to be taken seriously as an actor. But on the set of his new movie, everyone is baffled. By how terrible he is. Like laughably terrible. The worst timing, the most awkward line reads, cheesy expressions… at this point it’s become a fun work-time activity: watch him get through a scene, feel the fontrum for him while he sucks it so hard so obliviously, giggle your tits off later because he walks around thinking he is the sweetest sh-t ever.

There’s an ego involved, of course, and he actually thinks he’s doing a good job, that he is gifted in this discipline too. Please. He is not gifted. And his lack of gifts in this respect could cost the entire production. The weakest link drags it all down. Which is why people are mystified that the director has not bothered to fix it. Like suggesting more classes, like pushing his coach, like replacing him with someone who can actually do it? None of the above. Word is, he’ll make the corrections in post by greatly reducing the role. Unless there’s a miracle and suddenly Cate Blanchett comes out of his ass to save the day. Not likely.

Aw! She makes a mess of her living room to impress her kids

Movies of the Decade

Tracy Heightchew, Louisville Film Society co-founder
I don't know that any one film can be called the best film of the ‘'00s, but I can say which movie I argued the most about: “I'm Not There.” A thorough and ambitious film, it's been lambasted as coy and self-important, a silly misfire, what with its stunt casting of six actors to play one person. Director Todd Haynes presents us with a well-thought-out film, full of cultural allusions, inside jokes and respect for his subject, who is really such a cad. Add to that a great performance from Cate Blanchett, good performances from everyone else and a soundtrack that is at times unexpected in its selections and you have my favorite movie of the past decade.

Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton

Some may sniff that they are overexposed; others struggle with the changes this wife and husband team are making at the Sydney Theatre Company, where they are both artistic directors. But they have made a big difference to Sydney's theatre scene.

After overseeing Robyn Nevin's final program in 2008 they launched their first full slate last year, a mixture of classics and contemporary works, with a few surprises to shake out the cobwebs.

The box office is looking healthy, thanks to sold-out shows and extended seasons.

The triumphant tour of Streetcar to Washington and new York exposed US audiences to Australian talent on stage and behind it.

The 2010 season includes more international names: William Hurt in Long Day's Journey into Night, Philip Seymour Hoffman directing True West, Steppenwolf company of Chicago bringing its acclaimed production of August Osage County. not to mention a high-wattage Australian cast - Blanchett, Hugo Weaving, John Bell and Richard Roxburgh - in Uncle Vanya.

But they have made a big difference to Sydney's theatre scene.

Here's a short little video of Cate at the Armani welcome dinner in New York
http://extratv.warnerbros.com/videos/index.php?mediaKey=095b4783-8110-41ed-baae-2c8349a50ef0&isShareURL=true