Cate Blanchett reveals why she ‘lost faith in religion’ following the death of her father Robert at the age of 10

Cate Blanchett has revealed why she lost faith in religion after the death of her father Robert.

The Australian actress, 54, who was just ten years old when her father died of a heart attack, turned to religion in the hope it would bring her closer to him.

But soon realizing this wouldn’t happen, Cate fled the church and spent her childhood in nature.

Speak with The Sunday times, she said, “As a child, I wanted a religion. I wanted the strong hand of God to lay a hand on my childish shoulders and say, “Your father is with me. He’s having fun. You’ll see him in 60 years.”

‘But that didn’t happen. And so, as a ten-year-old, I fled from church and moved to the river and spent my childhood in nature.

The Australian actress, who was just ten years old when her father died of a heart attack, turned to religion in the hope it would bring her closer to him (Cate pictured in her new film The New Boy)

“If I had stayed in the Methodist church I would have played a lot of bad guitar, but instead I went cycling, thinking I was Nancy Drew, by the Yarra River.”

Her late father married her mother June Share Cate, as well as a younger brother and a younger sister.

Although the loss of her father caused even more heartbreak, Cate’s teacher previously admitted that it instilled in her a “fierce work ethic and a burning sense of responsibility.”

Her admission comes after she dismissed rumors about the status of her marriage as she stepped out with husband Andrew Upton in London on Thursday.

The couple looked in good spirits as they attended a special event launching her role as creative director of alcohol brand Toku Saké.

Cate shares sons Roman, 19, Dashiell, 21, and Ignatius, 15, as well as adopted daughter Edith, eight, with Andrew, 57 – who she tied the knot with in 1997.

Rumors of marital problems swirled when Cate was spotted several times without her wedding ring.

Cate, who has been married to playwright Andrew since 1997, left fans confused after she stepped out at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards without her ring.

But soon realizing this wouldn’t happen, Cate “fled the church and spent her childhood in nature”

Speaking to The Sunday Times, she said: ‘As a child I wanted a religion. I wanted the strong hand of God to lay a hand on my childish shoulders and say, “Your father is with me. He’s having fun. You’ll see him in 60 years.”

She added: “But that didn’t happen. And so, as a ten-year-old, I fled from church and moved to the river and spent my youth in nature.’

She stunned at a British film industry event in a maroon Louis Vuitton dress and a striking body chain combination.

But instead of wearing her white gold and diamond wedding sparkler, the Blue Jasmine star wore a large emerald green cocktail ring.

Her husband did not attend the event.

Curiously, Cate was also spotted ring-free last month, when she attended an event in New York at the Museum of Modern Art on February 6.

Cate made no attempt to hide her bare wedding finger as she smiled for photos outside the exclusive event.

In October 2023, Cate was seen again without her wedding ring as she sat front row at Stella McCartney’s runway show during Paris Fashion Week.

Instead, the actor wore a set of elegant gold bands on her wedding finger.

Speak with women’s Day magazine, a source close to the couple said Cate’s missing ring has raised alarm bells about the status of her marriage.

Her admission comes after she dismissed rumors about the status of her marriage as she stepped out with husband Andrew Upton in London on Thursday

Rumors of marital problems started doing the rounds when she was spotted without her wedding ring on several occasions

“Seeing Cate without her ring has sent shockwaves through their friends. For the first time, they are wondering if the situation is not so rosy,” the insider claimed.

There has been a question mark hanging over Cate and Andrew’s marriage for some time now.

The couple had not been seen on a date since August, when they were photographed enjoying a sun-soaked holiday in Ibiza, making the launch their first in seven months.

They also raised eyebrows last month after putting their sprawling mansion in Prahran, Melbourne, on the market.

The three-bedroom family home, which the couple bought in 2006, went under the hammer for more than $3 million.