For me, it was Hanna. I had seen her in The Missing, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and a couple of others before that and thoroughly enjoyed them, but when I saw her play a villain and actually pull it off, I saw how talented and versatile she was as an actress.
shareElizabeth and Talented Mr. Ripley at the beginning of her international career. I became a lifelong fan instantly.
"The trick, William Potter,is not minding that it hurts."
Elizabeth - The Golden Age.
I'm a recent cinephile. 2 years ago when I started to see a lot of films, I was watching a lot of Gwyneth Paltrow's films and I found her likeable but very ordinary as actress. Then I found out that she won an Oscar, and over Fernanda Montenegro's monumental performance in Central Station. I went to see 3 of the 5 nominated films: Shakespeare in Love(because she won), Elizabeth(YouTube comments saying Cate was robbed) and Central Station(Fernanda is brazilian like me and her performance was incredible). After seeing all 3 films I liked more Fernanda, then Gwyneth and then Cate. After a while, when I wasn't that naive in terms of acting quality, I moved Cate to Gwyneth's position.
But when I saw Elizabeth - The Golden Age. Cate's presence is so huge, her voice, her power. I just became a fan. And by proxy I became a fan of Marion Cotillard. Because I tought "Who could beat this magnificent performance by Cate at the Oscars?" then I saw La Vie En Rose and it was just the best acting I've ever seen in my life.
Seen Ripley first, but Elizabeth was what got my attention.
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/BjANDqzCcAAJj62.jpg:large
Oh, Elizabeth for sure. Went in simply to check out what was all the buzz about regarding this 'unknown actress thinking she can start off by playing such an iconic role!' Lol. Of course that made me a fan forever. However, after seeing Elizabeth I did remember that I had seen this same actress whose name I still didnt know one year prior in Paradise Road. At the time, surrounded by all these big names, she stood out and I thought 'this young little actress is going to be huge and will go a long way'.
shareElizabeth and then The Gift. After those two, I started watching her in other films, both newer and older....
shareNotes on a Scandal.
shareELIZABETH, ELIZABETH AND ELIZABETH
Also "Elizabeth: The Golden Age" and "Notes on a Scandal".
Elizabeth in 1998 and her famous loss to Paltrow at the Oscar. I remember that I at first did not find Blanchett very attractive, but as a powerhouse actress in Elizabeth. Then she stole all her few scenes in The Talented Mr Ripley and Bandits. I was hooked
FYI: Her, McQueen, Blanchett, McConaughey, Lupita and Leto