Cate Blanchett

Oscar winning star Cate Blanchett invites Mariella to her home in the South Downs to peruse her bookshelves.

After being greeted at the door by Doug the Pug, the pair settle down to discuss Cate’s most loved books, discovering the role they’ve played throughout her life – whether as part of her Australian childhood or influencing her performances on stage and screen.

In her picture book choice you’ll meet the Bunyip – a mythological creature whose story she loved so much she now reads it to her children. Then there’s the Russian magic realist classic that she found super sexy, and the brutal love story she sees as an ode to her homeland.

Mariella and Cate find reoccurring themes; from gender politics to sexual harassment, cruelty within love, romance and the evolution of feminism. The pair move on to discuss the #MeToo movement, how to manage success as a woman and the perils of social media when it comes to sexual abuse claims.

Their witty and thought-provoking chat dives deep into Cate’s life and thoughts, even briefly bagging Mariella a new job as Cate’s personal shrink.

Cate’s choices: The book that… … She’s read to all her children: ‘The Bunyip of Berkeley’s Creek’ by Jenny Wagner, 1975 ... Is her childhood favourite: ‘The Magic Far Away Tree’ by Enid Blyton, 1943 … Bends her mind: ‘Aftermath’ by Rachel Cusk, 2012 … She revisited after decades: ‘The First Stone: Some questions about sex and power’ by Helen Garner, 1995 … Broke her heart: ‘A Manual for Cleaning Women’ by Lucia Berlin, 2015 … She was ambushed by: ‘The Watch Tower’ by Elizabeth Harrow, 1966 … Is brutally romantic: ‘Voss’ by Patrick White, 1957 … She finds totally bizarre: ‘The Master and Margarita’ by Mikhail Bulgakov, 1967

Presenter and Executive Producer: Mariella Frostrup Producer: Sera Baker Music: Matt Clifford at Music and Voices TBI Media Production for BBC Sounds