Cate Blanchett performs barefoot with Iranian women at the Variety and Golden Globes party in Cannes

May 20, 2023

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Cate Blanchett stripped off her stiletto heels as she took the stage at a Cannes Film Festival party hosted by Variety and the Golden Globes on Friday night. Since this is Cannes, where women are required to wear heels on the red carpet, shoes have become a political symbol on the French Riviera. And indeed, in this case, Blanchett went barefoot to make a statement – to show solidarity with women in Iran. The high-profile actor, who was on hand to present ‘Holy Spider’ star Zahra Amir Ebrahimi with a groundbreaking artist award, snatched up the trophy and joked, “This is to stab anyone who stands in the way of women’s rights.” Up on the Vajayjay !“

In her remarks, Ebrahimi drew emotional attention to her home country, where “innocent people are being executed”. She said, “I always thought being an actress was a paradox: serving your feelings while also being a flag, a mirror, or a light.” This award celebrates that paradox.”

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Blanchett kicks off her heels as she presents “Holy Spider” star Zahra Amir Ebrahimi. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Variety via Getty Images)

In addition to Ebrahimi, May December actor Charles Melton, Black Flies star Tye Sheridan and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny breakthrough artist Shaunette Renée Wilson were also honored at the gathering – a first Cannes collaboration with Variety and the Golden Globes celebrating breakthrough actors. Deloitte was the official sponsor and Campari and Neom were main sponsors.

The party, attended by filmmaker Todd Haynes, playwright Jeremy O. Harris, director Jean-Stéphane Sauvaire, among others, took place on Barrier Beach at The Majestic Cannes. They were joined by the festival’s top producers, executives and artists, including Thierry Fremaux, Mads Mikkelsen, Christine Vachon, Pauline Chalamet, Boyd Holbrook and Sony Pictures Classics Co-President Tom Bernard. Variety Associate Editor Ramin Setoodeh and Golden Globes President Helen Hoehne hosted the evening, which lasted until 2 a.m. while those in attendance danced to hits spanning several decades on the beach.

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Back onstage, Sauvaire, who directed Sheridan in Black Flies, called the actor “my friend, my supporter, my partner.”

While accepting the trophy, Sheridan addressed the medical professionals around the world who served as inspiration for her intense thriller. “I’ve been very fortunate to work with talented people,” he said. “You can’t be a breakthrough artist without having a lot of people supporting you.”

Later in the evening, Haynes described the “daunting task” of finding an actor to play against these “extraordinary powerhouse women,” referring to Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, who starred in his age-difference romance drama May December. play the lead roles. Melton plays the much younger husband of Moore’s character in the film, which premieres at the festival on Saturday night.

Todd Haynes and Charles Melton hug at the Variety and Golden Globes Breakthrough Artists Party. (Photo by Pierre Suu/Variety via Getty Images)

“We started looking at readings, and I saw this guy, Charles Melton, and I was like, ‘No, he looks so good.’ “There’s no such thing as that,” Haynes said of the actor, who starred on the hit CW series Riverdale. “I listened to the audition and there’s so much nuance, insight and confidence in it.” He called Melton’s performance “the film’s great discovery.” The director also says, “He agreed to gain 35 pounds to look more like a suburban guy.”

Praising his filmmaker, Melton said, “You rarely find someone who trusts you more than you trust yourself.” My legs are shaking right now.”

A stylishly dressed Harris, who closed the evening, had to silence the rowdy crowd at least twice before toasting Wilson as “queen” and “someone who means the world to me and many others.”

As Wilson took the stage, she said, “I think the feeling of seeing promise in an actor is wonderful and beautiful.” She still seemed incredulous that she co-hosted the festival for Dial of Destiny with Harrison Ford “ should visit. “I was in Indiana Jones, it’s crazy.”

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