Oscar-winning Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett has received an honorary doctorate from Sydney University for her services to the arts as director of the city's flagship theater company. Blanchett, 43, received the doctor of letters in a ceremony at the university's Great Hall over the weekend.
"This means a great deal (to) me as someone who didn't complete my arts degree at Melbourne University - I left to go to the National Institute of Dramatic Art," Blanchett told the Sun-Herald newspaper.
The honor was for Blanchett's "work as an actress and as artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company, as well as her advocacy on the importance of arts in education," according to media reports. Blanchett and her playwright husband Andrew Upton are credited with turning around the Sydney Theatre Company's finances during their tenure which began in 2008.
She and Upton had announced that they would step down as co-artistic directors and chief executive officers at the end of next year due to Blanchett's overseas film commitments and the pressure of three young children.
Renowned indigenous singer Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu, who is blind and taught himself to play the guitar, was also honored with a degree for his contribution to music and culture. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
