Cate Blanchett asks audience to stop ‘spoiling’ National Theatre show by filming

The Australian actress, 57, is currently starring in the production of Electra/Persona at the Lyttelton Theatre in London.

However, during one of her latest shows, Blanchett urged those attending to put down their phones.

During the curtain call on Friday, she said: “There are few places on this planet where we can simply be together and be present.

Cate Blanchett has asked audience members to stop ‘spoiling’ her National Theatre show (Ian West/PA)

PA Archive

“I understand you like filming the curtain call – and it is kind of flattering in a way – but for anyone who is filming the show, please don’t, because it spoils it for the next group of people who come in and are present with us. So thank you very much.”

The two-time Oscar winner was then given cheers and claps from the audience.

She is starring in the world premiere of Benedict Andrews’ new production alongside Nina Hoss.

The play fuses Sophocles’ ancient myth Electra with Ingmar Bergman’s 1966 film Persona, with the actresses sharing the roles of Electra/Elisabeth and Clytemnestra/Alma, which is determined by a coin toss live on stage every night ahead of each performance.

It runs until October 10.

Blanchett is not the only Hollywood star to address theatre etiquette recently.

Cate Blanchett made the appeal during a curtain call (Ian West/PA)

PA Wire

In May, British actress Rosamund Pike reportedly berated an audience member for being on their phone during a performance of Inter Alia at Wyndham’s Theatre in London.

Pike, who won an Olivier award for her role as a crown court judge in the Suzie Miller play, said the texter had broken the bond between cast and audience, The Times reported.

The next month a phone alarm in the front row also interrupted one of her shows.

Despite refraining from making any comments after the show had finished, Pike is understood to have shot the woman a glare when the phone was finally retrieved from her handbag and silenced.