The New York Times is reporting that actress Cate Blanchett has been named president of the jury at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. Blanchett—who split her cinematic 2017 between Terrence Malick and a rampaging thunder god—was announced as the jury president by the festival’s organizers earlier today.
The Australian Oscar-winner is the latest female jury president for a festival that’s often been seen to have problems with representation, both in the make-up of its deciding body, and the films it ultimately showers with awards. Jane Campion was the last woman to hold the position, in 2014; before that, it was Isabella Huppert, in 2009.
Notably, Blanchett has been a powerful voice on the subject of feminism in Hollywood of late, voicing her support for the women coming forward with allegations against men like Harvey Weinstein, and proudly placing her name on the recent Time’s Up movement focused on anti-harassment and assault efforts in the industry. (She was also pretty cool as the bad guy in Thor: Ragnarok, although we’re not sure that’s exactly why Cannes ultimately gave her the nod.)