Cate Blanchett is reluctant to talk about influences.
But what about the last name on that chain?
Oh, do you know Frank Thring?
she says with giddy delight at the mention of his name.
When his fake mustache fell off during the show, Thring growled, Damn this Japanese merchandising!
Little Cate was utterly mesmerized.
Icertainlyremember the first time I saw him, she says.
Thring, who was openly gay and a regular raconteur on Aussie talks shows, died in 1994.
In her video, Blanchett describes herself as not being made of such stern a stuff.
