Cate Blanchett is no doubt one of the greatest actors of all time. Because aside from the fact that she’s obviously just incredibly talented, she’s also just about as versatile as it gets. Need proof? Watch Ocean’s 8 and Blue Jasmine back-to-back.
Another department she’s impressively multifaceted in, however, is the beauty one. Red lips? Does them like a pro. Subtle neutrals? No problem. Blonde, brunette, bronde; she’s done it all, and done it all well.
So, in celebration of her 52nd birthday, we’re taking a look back at Cate’s best beauty looks, and wow what a delightful trip down memory lane it was…
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1997
Cate basically invented hair accessories and this old-school floral headpiece is nothing short of nostalgic perfection.
1998
Is it a mullet? Is it a pony? Who knows. Is it chic because it’s Cate? Yes, 3000%. And can we just say: those eyes. Bluer than the damn ocean.
1999
Nothing says it’s almost 2000s time like pulled-back pieces and poker straight strands. Oh, and lip gloss. Obviously.
2000
The next year, however, was definitely a dramatic departure, as she showed off a deep brunette spiky crop.
2001
The blonde came back shortly after, but Cate was clearly loving the shorter length. Doesn’t she look like an absolute pixie princess?!
2002
Tonal berry is always a bold move, but it definitely paid off with this rosy eyes, lips and cheeks combo.
2003
She flipped the script the next year with bright green shadow, concentrated on the lower lash line for extra impact.
2004
2004 was all about a coppery bronde colour, styled into a polished updo and paired with glitzy magenta liner.
2005
Ah, there’s the vanilla blonde we know and love her for. And boy oh boy, does it work a treat with lashes and a bright pink lip.
2006
Glossy skin, sparkly copper shadow and glistening nude lips will always be a winning combo, but those curls take the cake.
2007
Anyone with blue eyes knows: nothing makes them pop quite as piercingly as a generous application of dramatic kohl liner.
2008
Cate’s well aware of the classic rule: when playing up the lip, leave the eyes a little more natural with light mascara.
2009
Our favourite thing about Cate’s complexion? It’s gorgeously glowy but it looks like skin.
2010
Embracing a Jackie Kennedy-esque curled bob, Cate went low-key with neutral tones in the makeup department.
2011
She switched her blonde to a slightly cooler shade the following year, chopping her length a little shorter as well.
2012
Silver shadow isn’t easy to master, but of course Cate did it flawlessly. We love the sleek chignon, too.
2013
If there’s a combo that’ll never, ever be anything but classic, it’s this one: a buttery red lip and lashings of mascara.
2014
When your skin looks this great, sometimes all you need is some pale pink balm and a little lash action.
2015
Cate embraces a tonal copper colour in the makeup game, while styling her longer locks into a sleek side part.
2016
But hey, she didn’t leave bob-town for long, and honestly, with this gorgeously chic crop, it’s easy to understand why.
2017
Cate and cool-girl waves are a match made in heaven; as are nude gloss and bold lashes.
2018
The warmer hair hue was still going strong the next year, but Cate paired it with cooler colours in smokey shadow form.
2019
Hello, brunette bombshell! We love her as a blonde, but damn, did she look stunning with this glossy chocolate shade.
2020
The brunette stint was short but sweet, though – and the bright blonde has been going strong ever since.
2021
Anyone who looks this good via a virtual stream is no doubt an absolute icon. Also, Cate, please drop your flyaway tamer.
Cate always looks amazing no matter what hair or makeup she's rocking.
She has the most beautiful skin
Her 2015 look was my favourite
Aged so beautifully
She sure does look beautiful!
Last one (for her skin tone and body type), sleek blonde.
She always looks beautiful.
She always looks great!
Cate always looks stunning.
Fantastic actress, and always glamorous.
I know this is probably an unpopular opinion, but I don't see the hype around Cate.
Some of her hairstyles have been awful……
A natural beauty – so refreshing to see these days.
She always looks stunning.
Cate has quite a unique look that’s really not typically Hollywood, which has probably contributed a fair bit to her success (along with talent, of course).
Really like Cate Blanchett with a Short Bob she certainly has improved her makeup but I am sure that a makeup artist has made noticable changes so impressed by her beautiful glowing skin she must have a fantastic skincare routine.
She looks great with very short hair.
I like her 2010 look – fresh and natural looking – whereas the 2007 look, in my opinion, is not at all flattering. She has definitely aged well.
She looks beautiful always 🙂 love seeing the evolution my favourite has to be 1999.
She's gorgeous.
Her skin has always been flawless!
She's beautiful,
Very glam!
Cate looks fab through all those years! Her face is amazing!!
What a beauty.
She has aged so beautifully.
Always a class act. So beautiful
Cate is a beautiful chameleon, both in looks and the breadth of her acting abilities. The 2008 photo shows a softness with the blond curls gently giving her face a perfect glow, very delicate and natural. To 2021 still looking sleek and elegant – a totally sophisticated yet understated fashion statement.
I always think of her as rather ageless, but you can see how young she was in some of these photos. She's ageing gracefully and still looks fabulous.
Come on, if we had access to a make up artist, stylist, P.T. , plastic surgeon we could all have a style revolution.
I'm used to seeing Cate with blonde hair, so I was surprised to see the photo of her wearing brunette hair which looks great.
I love her! She carries brunette hair surprisingly well – very flattering on her.
Classy, and she has gorgeous skin 🙂 Didn't she promote SK-11?
I think of her looks as striking rather than classically beautiful, she does have great skin though.
yes she did,a nd now she promotes Giorgio Armani cosmetics and Si perfume
Such different and lovely hair styles and colours
She's the epitome of ageing graccefully isn't she??? Simply stunning!!!
She's fine as an actress etc but I didn't appreciate her political stance a few years ago.
Looks like she's preferred to be blonde over the years
Stunning.
Loved seeing her different styles over the years
Cate has such an interesting face and looks amazing in every picture always keeping it Classy.
Such a wonderful talent but some of those hairstyles, nooo!
I like her hair styles. Her 2017 look my favourite.
Cate looks amazing even without all the star make up. I was departing a plane and she was right in front of me with her young baby, still looking amazing, alone without any entourage to assist and she looked completely composed and beautiful.
Thank you, Oktako!! I turned off completely with that too.