Professor Blanchett reporting for duty.
Oscar winner Cate Blanchett is confirmed for a surprising new career move as the next Cameron Mackintosh visiting professor of contemporary theater at St. Catherine’s College at the prestigious University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. She will assume the post for this fall’s academic year of 2026-27.
The professorship — established in 1990 thanks to a gift from the renowned British theater producer responsible for such legendary productions as Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera and Cats — has a history of bringing “internationally significant figures from theater, film and performance into direct dialogue with students” and the university community. Blanchett follows in a line of previous visiting professors including Stephen Sondheim, Ian McKellen, Arthur Miller, Meera Syal, Tom Stoppard, Adjoa Andoh, Stephen Fry, Diana Rigg, Trevor Nunn and Deborah Warner, among others.
Blanchett will be charged with contributing to a program of conversations, lectures and engagement with students and the university community. She follows closely in the footsteps of artist and stage designer Es Devlin, who helped expand the professorship’s reach and relevance.
