A Japanese journey
The Star Online

We are dogging Cate Blanchett's footsteps in Japan. No, we aren't stalking her, we're there at the invitation of the skincare brand SK-II for which she’s an ambassador. She's on a journey of discovery at the birthplace of Pitera, the skincare's signature ingredient, and to experience the brand's Japanese heritage.
After spending an unprecedented amount of time with Blanchett, we discover a charming, down-to-earth woman who welcomes new experiences as if they are a privilege.

Shushinkan Sake Brewery, Kobe: The journey begins with the Kagami Biraki ceremony at a sake brewery in Kobe. This ceremony celebrates the chance observation, made almost 30 years ago by SK-II scientists, of the sake brewers' youthful hands that inspired research into the yeast fermentation process and the discovery of Pitera. In the photo, Blanchett, Takashi Yoshii (senior manager, global technical marketing for SK-II), and Joanne Crewes (VP and GM for Global SK-II) are breaking a wooden sake barrel at the ceremony to signify its start.

Kodaiji Temple, Kyoto: The time-honoured Japanese tea ceremony, called chanoyu or sado, captures all the elements of Japanese philosophy and artistic beauty with four interwoven principles; harmony (with people and nature), respect (for others), purity (of heart and mind), and tranquillity. Its ultimate aim is the attainment of deep spiritual satisfaction through the drinking of tea and through silent contemplation - something Blanchett seems to thoroughly enjoy.

Ikenobo Kaikan, Kyoto: Ikebana, also known as kado, or the art of Japanese floral arrangement, has been practised for more than 600 years and remains one of the most distinct arts of the Japanese culture. In its highest form, Ikebana is spiritual and philosophical in nature and at the heart of Ikebana are balance, harmony and form. This is a time when one feels closeness to nature, which provides relaxation for the mind, body and soul.

Blanchett, pictured here with Yuki Ikenobo, the school's 46th generation headmaster, says she felt a special connection at the workshop.

Myoshinji Temple, Kyoto: Japanese calligraphy, or shodo, is not just the art of painting Oriental calligraphy on paper. Shodo is the art of refining one's character, and integrating mind and body through the brush. It is also considered to be an art that fuses language, emotion, and vision.

Rather appropriately, Blanchett is taught to write the Japanese character for "beauty" at this session.

The historical scale of the exhibition is enormous, including actors such as Colin Firth, Daniel Day Lewis and Tim Roth before they became Hollywood stars.

Annand's portrait of Sir John Gielgud, moments before his last stage performance at London's Apollo Theatre contrasts starkly with the image of 17-year-old Harry Potter star Daniel Radcliffe, the youngest actor featured in the collection, awaiting his first night in the play Equus.

As a result, Annand has managed to preserve some surprisingly personal moments on film, ranging from Vanessa Redgrave pictured drinking tea with an expression of intensity, to British actress Niamh Cusack pictured using the bathroom - a picture her family requested a print of to give as a present for her birthday.

"Her sisters love this picture," Annand said.

He said that many of the famous stars he has photographed were surprised that he wanted to take a picture in these private moments, which were so obviously photogenic to him and admits that often, nothing is left to the imagination.

"I've seen lots of naughty bits, but we don't show those."

Annand describes his photographs as capturing a "permitted vulnerability, a permitted melancholia that is never normally seen when an actor is preparing for work."

Annand said that his photographs provide an antidote to seeing actors merely as celebrities.

"Some of the work they do is quite technical and complicated," he said. "They have to keep in training, be it vocal techniques or physical techniques, and I think if you see them simply as celebrities you don't see this discipline."

He said that in some cases you can almost see the actors wrestling with the transformation from everyday life into the fictional world before they take the stage.

Thanks jorgelito and Alexandra!

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Earlier today, Blanchett and Upton presented to the media a program that crosses art forms, genres, and state and national boundaries.

"I think we've tried to create in this season a sense of event and buoyancy," Blanchett told The Australian. "It's really exposed the breadth of what theatre can be," added Upton.

"Obviously in this season it doesn't go as far as it could: we've only had eight months to bring it together. But it is definitely to a point where we can explore our breadth and diversity."

Next year, local heroes such as playwrights David Williamson and Andrew Bovell, actors Steve Bisley, Justine Clarke and Jonathan Biggins, and singer-composer Tim Finn will sit alongside international theatre names, including Norwegian actor Liv Ullmann, who will direct Blanchett and Joel Edgerton in the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Named Desire.

The season will also feature a "secret" project in December, 2009, directed by Academy Award-winning director Steven Soderbergh, whose credits include Sex, Lies, and Videotape, Erin Brockovich and Traffic.

In a nod to Australia's rich post-war theatre history, Wayne Blair will direct the 1971 Williamson classic The Removalists. When the Rain Stops Falling, one of the successes of this year's Adelaide Festival, will appear at the STC next May.

Gale Edwards will direct the Australian premiere of a parenting satire starring Jeremy Sims, titled God of Carnage by French playwright Yasmina Reza.

Blanchett and Upton also announced STC's first "open day" next month, which will give visitors a chance to explore the theatre's front and back stage.