Hollywood actress Cate Blanchett set to teach drama at Oxford University as visiting professor

By ELEANOR HARDING, EDUCATION EDITOR Published: 18:35, 16 June 2026 | Updated: 18:37, 16 June 2026 Cate Blanchett will become a visiting professor at Oxford University to encourage more students to take part in theatre. The Oscar-winning actress said she would cause a 'creative rumpus' when she takes up her post among the Dreaming Spires this autumn. The Australian star will take part in a year-long programme of conversations and lectures, engaging with students as well as the wider university community. While Oxford does not offer a theatre studies degree, it is famous for its numerous student-run theatre groups, which lay on professional-standard productions. She is the latest in a long line of actors to be appointed as the Cameron Mackintosh visiting professor of contemporary theatre at the university's St Catherine's College. The visiting professorship was established in 1990, with previous incumbents including Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Myra Syal and Dame Diana Rigg. She said: 'Art breaks down the borders and boundaries of our imagination. '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.' Cate Blanchett (pictured) will become a visiting professor at Oxford University to encourage more students to take part in theatre Blanchett has won two Oscars – first for her portrayal of Katherine Hepburn in The Aviator and then for her role in Woody Allen's Blue Jasmine. The 57-year-old initially rose to fame with her role as Queen Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Elizabeth and has since starred in the Lord Of The Rings, Ocean's 8, Carol, Notes on a Scandal and Tar. She has also starred on stage on both the West End and Broadway. Jude Kelly, Master of St Catherine's College, 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.' Sir Cameron Mackintosh added he was 'thrilled'. '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,' he added. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.