Cate Blanchett stuns in double denim at San Sebastian movie competition

Cate Blanchett turned heads as she arrived at 72nd San Sebastian Film Festival in Spain on Saturday.

The 55-year-old actress looked ethereal as she walked the red carpet in an ornate, semi-sheer gown with intricate gold embroidery and pearl embellishments.

To match her gold-gilded gown, she sported a pair of shiny, metallic pumps, which peeked out from underneath the long, sparkly skirt.

The Borderlands star — who brought back her viral spoons outfit at the Toronto International Film Festival screening of Disclaimer earlier this month — styled her platinum blonde bob in soft beach waves.

She also opted for a radiant, dewy makeup look to top it all off.

Blanchett was glowing in a shimmering bronze eyeshadow teamed with a generous application of champagne gold highlighter and rosy pink lip gloss. 

At the event in Spain, she took the stage to receive the Donostia Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her distinguished film career. 

She appeared to get emotional on stage while adding another achievement to her illustrious career and over 200 awards.

This year, she was honored alongside Spanish actor Javier Bardem and filmmaker Pedro Almodovar.

In the past, the award was also presented to silver screen icons, such as Gregory Peck, Vittorio Gassman, Bette Davis, Lauren Bacall, Meryl Streep and many more.

She will be receiving the award in person in San Sebastian as she also makes her first visit to the festival. 

Blanchett is the second Australian actor to receive San Sebastian’s highest honorary award after Hugh Jackman. 

While accepting her award, she was played a sentimental video message from George Clooney and received a standing ovation at San Sebastian Kursaal Theater.

‘F***ing George!’ Blanchett exclaimed as she got teary-eyed and wiped away her tears. 

In the pre-filmed video, Clooney said to her: ‘I want to say that there’s acting as a profession, and then there’s acting as an art, and we recognize that art…’ 

He continued: ‘I’ve been lucky enough to direct you and to act with you, and you always make everyone around you feel lucky that we get a chance to work with someone who is so gifted and kind, and I’m proud to call you a friend. 

‘I wish I was there,’ the Wolfs star added. 

‘I can’t be there because I’m in Venice right now. I wasn’t asked. And I can’t be there because I’m in Venice, and I’ve been drinking. And I have no pants on,’ he joked as the audience erupted in laughter. 

After accepting the award from Alfonso Cuarón, her Disclaimer director, she gave a speech. 

‘As an Australian working abroad, I’ve had the great privilege of transcending many bodies. And my work has taken me to central Asia, to Europe, the Americas, to China, it has taken me all over the world and here now in Basque country at this extraordinary vibrant festival,’ she said. 

‘I’m so very honored to receive this award. Thank you San Sebastian. Thank you.’ 

She went on to share her belief that ‘uncertainty and doubt’ fuels her drive and passion. 

‘It’s bewildering to me that there seems to be a lot of certainty, a lot of righteousness and a lack of doubt in the world, when, in fact, the world is a deeply uncertain place and to creative life, it’s fueled with uncertainty and doubt. It’s the DNA of how you begin any project. You have to humble yourself. I worry that we’re trying to find answers too quickly, and it’s this uncertainty, I think, that drives me on.’

Earlier in the day, before she walked the red carpet, Blanchett put on a stylish display in a denim, double breasted blazer with light brown, contrasting trim and a pair of matching straight-leg jeans.

To match the subtle details of her top, she sported brown platform leather mules and a pair of oversize, tinted sunglasses.

Ahead of receiving the Donostia career achievement award in Spain, she went light on the accessories and wore a massive gem on her wedding ring finger.

This comes months after Blanchett and her longtime husband, playwright Andrew Upton, 58, sparked divorce rumors when she stopped wearing her wedding ring and sold her house in Melbourne. 

However, since then, Blanchett has dismissed the split speculation as she made a point of making a public appearance with him at an event in London.

She was all smiles as she made her grand arrival alone. 

The Tár alum looked to be in high spirits as she blew kisses to the crowd of fans and posed for photos with the festival director José Luis Rebordinos.

The two-time Oscar winner looked radiant as she sported minimal to no makeup and left her platinum blonde bob down in her natural, straight hairstyle.

Earlier this month, Blanchett graced another film festival as she attended the Rumours premiere during the Toronto International Film Festival. 

She also made an appearance at the Venice Film Festival this summer too. 

Blanchett’s latest projects include her leading role in the film adaptation of the video game Borderlands, which was released in early August.

She is also starring in the Apple TV+ mini series titled Disclaimer alongside Kevin Kline. 

The mystery thriller will premiere on the streaming service on October 11. 

In the seven-chapter series, Blanchett, who also serves as the executive producer, will portray Catherine Ravenscroft, a television documentary journalist whose work has been built on revealing the transgressions of long-respected institutions.

The logline reads as follows: ‘When an intriguing novel appears at the bedside of a journalist whose career has been built on revealing transgressions, she is horrified to realize she’s a key character in a long-buried story, one that exposes her darkest secret.’ 

Up next, she will also be making her return to the stage for her first theater performance in six years. 

She will be portraying Irina Arkadina in an adaptation of Russian writer Anton Chekhov’s play The Seagull.