This picture of Cate concentrating on her cigarette, about to go on stage reminds me of the story my uncle told me when he was a day player in a third season episode of the X Files.  When Gillian Anderson came out to start fiming his scene in the morning of their day of filming, she was playing with her daughter, interacting with the crew, and generally being herself.  Then she got onto the set, was placed into position before the camera.  Right before they called out ‘action’ she looked down at her sleeve, picked a wee little piece of link off of her Scully blazer and kept her head down for just a moment, quietly focusing herself.  In that moment she was able to pull herself in, and get into the somber character that Scully was.

bohemea:

Cate Blanchett by Simon Annand