Cate’s Big Night

It may have been pouring from the heavens at last night's royal premiere for Charlotte Gray, but Cate Blanchett's megawatt smile and star presence more than compensated for the British weather. Dressed in a mere slip of a dress, Blanchett spent time signing autographs with her sodden fans before diving into a crowd of journalists to discuss the film in hand. In particular, most wanted to know how she managed filming such an active movie whilst in the early stages of pregnancy. 'It was pretty intense on a physical as well as on physical and emotional level,' she told Empire Online. 'I didn't expect the physical challenge... it was nice to have some time off afterwards and enjoy being pregnant.' As to the question of how she managed to look so goddamned fabulous mere months after giving birth, she smiled saying; 'They say the first baby is easy - it's the seventh that's difficult.' Fans of the book may be disappointed that director Gillian Armstrong changed the ending for the film, but Blanchett was keen to support the decision. 'The experience of reading a novel is formally very different from seeing a film and Sebastian as a film critic very properly said that this is a film, it maintains the spirit of the novel, but it has to be a film experience, otherwise why do it.' Other stars of the film including Rupert Penry-Jones and Sir Michael Gambon were also on hand to lend support for the film. 'It was effortless,' said Rupert, of his experience in working with Cate. 'She makes you look better.' Sir Michael, who was heading off to Dublin to make a film with Michael Caine in which he plays, 'another middle-aged idiot - should be fun,' was also fulsome in his praise of the lovely Cate; 'She's beautiful and I wish I was Billy Crudup - I hate him playing her lover!' The premiere, which was held for The Prince's Trust, was attended by Prince Charles as well as a number of World War II's original female secret agents. 'You were so brave and a great example. It's lovely to meet you,' Charles told Nancy Wake, 89 - one of the inspirations behind the book and the film.