Cate Blanchett has revealed that she has had "many" relationships with women in the past. The Oscar-winning star, who has four children with her husband, the playwright Andrew Upton, made the comments during an interview with Variety. 

Cate BlanchettCate Blanchett says she has had relationships with "many" women

Blanchett was promoting her new movie The Price of Salt - in which she plays a New Yorker who has a lesbian affair with a younger woman - when she was asked whether it was her first turn as a lesbian on-screen.

"On film, or in real life?" Blanchett replied, before being asked if she has had relationships with women in the past, "Yes. Many times," she said.

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Blanchett did not give any further details but said she read 1950s erotic novels to prepare for the role.

"I read a lot of girl-on-girl books from the period. I think there are a lot of people that exist like (her character) who don't feel the need to shout things from the rafters," she said.

The comments have given The Price of Salt extra publicity ahead of its premiere at the Cannes Film Festival on May 17. The movie is directed by I'm Not There's Todd Haynes and sees Rooney Mara play Blanchett's love interest.

Later in the interview, the Australian actress was asked about the Hollywood campaign for equal rights for women.

"We have to push forward," she said, "What industry has parity pay for women? None. Why would we expect this industry to be any different?"

It is not yet known when The Price of Salt will get a full U.S. release, though we'll know more after Cannes. 

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