Cate Blanchett to be Oxford University's next visiting professor of contemporary theatre

The Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett has promised to cause a “creative rumpus” in her latest role, as visiting professor at the University of Oxford.

The Australian star is the latest in a long line of celebrated thespians to be appointed as the Cameron Mackintosh visiting professor of contemporary theatre at St Catherine’s College, Oxford.

The role, which covers the 2026-27 academic year, will require Blanchett to take part in a programme of conversations and lectures, engaging with students as well as the wider university community.

She follows in the footsteps of Stephen Sondheim, Ian McKellen, Arthur Miller, Meera Syal, Tom Stoppard, Adjoa Andoh, Stephen Fry, Diana Rigg, Trevor Nunn and Deborah Warner, among others who have held the role, which was established in 1990 through a gift from the theatre producer Cameron Mackintosh.

Blanchett described the appointment as an electrifying opportunity. “Art breaks down the borders and boundaries of our imagination; it poses questions, and playing with and dissecting it expands and challenges our present reality.

“My years of creative practice have granted me the opportunity of sharpening feelings into ideas and offered pathways to insight,” she said. “The visiting professorship is an electrifying opportunity for me to be in direct, robust creative dialogue with the next generation of thinkers and creative doers. I look forward to beginning this creative rumpus.”

Jude Kelly, master of St Catherine’s College and herself one of the country’s most celebrated theatre directors and producers, said: “Cate Blanchett is one of the most important and influential artistic voices working today, not only through the extraordinary breadth of her work across theatre and screen, but through her longstanding commitment to cultural dialogue, collaboration and public engagement.

“The Cameron Mackintosh visiting professorship exists to bring world-leading practitioners into meaningful conversation with students, academics and audiences, and Cate’s appointment represents a hugely exciting next chapter in that story.”

Mackintosh added: “I am really thrilled that Cate Blanchett has agreed to be our next visiting professor. I know that her incredible career, both as an actor and producer across stage, screen and television, will be a major inspiration to Oxford’s students.”

Blanchett has appeared in dozens of critically acclaimed films, including Tár, Carol, Blue Jasmine, Elizabeth and Lord of the Rings. She has starred in theatrical productions on Broadway and in the West End and was co-artistic director at the acclaimed Sydney Theatre Company between 2008 and 2013.