Brad Pitt and Cate Blanchett

Moviegoers were first introduced to this Australian actress in 1998 when she took the title role in Elizabeth and earned her first Oscar® nomination. But it was her role as an elfin princess in the Lord of the Rings trilogy that landed her on the mainstream map. While critics agree the roles Cate usually accepts—from Katharine Hepburn in the Aviator to Bob Dylan in I'm Not There—are unconventional, they've led Cate to five Oscar nominations and one win.