“COVID madness” drove Cate Blanchett all the way to ‌Borderlands

COVID-19 drove people to do many wild things. It’s not that surprising, considering the pandemic began with the President of these United States suggesting people get some sun and inject bleach to stave off illness. But of all the toilet seat licking, “Imagine” singing, and anti-vax grifting, perhaps the most surprising thing to happen these awful four years was Cate Blanchett joining the cast of Borderlands. Seriously, what the hell is Lydia Tár doing?

In a new interview with Empire, Blanchett says that it was “COVID madness” that led her to the twisted mind of Eli Roth. Blanchett, who says she gravitates toward “the crazy asks,” was spending “a lot of time in the garden” during lockdown. This helped her get on Roth’s wavelength as she was “using the chainsaw a little too freely.” When Roth reached out to Blanchett, her presumably terrified husband, who had watched his wife using her chainsaw with reckless abandon amid a global shutdown, told her, “‘This film could save your life.’”

Of course, accepting the role came with its own problems. Blanchett’s thumbs, for instance, “can barely control a phone.” Nevertheless, ever the good sport, Blanchett bought a PS5 and explored “what fans loved about the game” before distracting herself with cosplayers and makeup tutorials. Stars, they really are just like us.