Cate Blanchett beats Cate Blanchett – 2009 Sydney Theatre Awards

Sydney Theatre Company co-Artistic Director Cate Blanchett showed she has a sense of humour while accepting Best Actress award at the Sydney Theatre Awards, presented at Club Swans, Kings Cross tonight (January 18, 2010).

Blanchett won for her performance as Blanche Dubois in the STC’s acclaimed production of A Streetcar Named Desire, triumphing over another nomination in the category - Cate Blanchett in the STC’s production of The War of the Roses.

“That (other) Cate Blanchett is over-rated. I was at NIDA with her. She was a shit,” she joked.

On a serious note, she thanked the theatre critics for supporting the production, which gave them confidence for their tour to Washington and New York.

It was a big night for the STC – taking out eleven awards.

Pictured above are Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton, with Wendy Blacklock, who took out Lifetime Achievement Award. The founder of Performing Lines, Wendy’s on-stage and producing career began in the 1950s

Chicago blitzed the Musical Theatre awards.

AWARD WINNERS

BEST MAINSTAGE PRODUCTION
The War of the Roses (STC and Sydney Festival)

BEST INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION
The Only Child (The Hayloft Project in association with B Sharp)

BEST DIRECTION
Benedict Andrews (The War of the Roses - STC)

BEST ACTRESS IN A LEAD ROLE
Cate Blanchett (A Streetcar Named Desire - STC)

BEST ACTOR IN A LEAD ROLE
Ewen Leslie (The War of the Roses - STC)

BEST ACTRESS IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Anita Hegh (The City - STC)

BEST ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Tim Richards (A Streetcar Named Desire - STC)

BEST NEW AUSTRALIAN WORK
When the Rain Stops Falling (Andrew Bovell – Brink Productions / STC)

BEST NEWCOMER
Josh McConville (The Call & Strange Attractor - Griffin)

BEST SET DESIGN
Robert Cousins (The War of the Roses - STC)

BEST COSTUME DESIGN
Julie Lynch (Travesties - STC)

BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
Nick Schlieper (The War of the Roses - STC)

BEST SCORE OR SOUND DESIGN
Paul Charlier (A Streetcar Named Desire - STC)

BEST PRODUCTION OF A MUSICAL
Chicago

JUDITH JOHNSON AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL
Sharon Millerchip (Chicago)

JUDITH JOHNSON AWARD FOR BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTOR IN A MUSICAL
Damien Bermingham (Chicago)

BEST CABARET PRODUCTION
Meow to the World: Crisis is Born (Sydney Opera House)

BEST PRODUCTION FOR CHILDREN
The Gruffalo (Christine Dunstan Productions)

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Wendy Blacklock (Performing Lines)