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Cate Blanchett's honest husband

May 18, 2010, 9:30 GMT

Russell Crowe (L), Cate Blanchett (C) and French screenwriter and Jury member Emmanuel Carrere (R) attend the opening ceremony of the 63rd Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France, 12 May 2010. The movie by English director Ridley Scott is presented out of competition at the Cannes Film Festival 2010, running from 12 to 23 May. EPA/CHRISTOPHE KARABA

Cate Blanchett's husband told her she had a short time left in the film industry.

The Australian actress has revealed her playwright spouse Andrew Upton told her upon her breakthrough role in 'Elizabeth' in 1998 she would probably only have five years left making movies.

She said: "My husband keeps me really honest. I remember him saying to me after I made 'Elizabeth', 'Sweetheart, you've probably got about five years.'

"He was preparing me for the time when the work dries up, as it invariably does."

Despite his brutal honesty, the 'Robin Hood' actress is happy to work with her husband on projects including their second stint as artistic directors of the Sydney Theatre Company because she understands the point of criticism.

Cate said in an interview with W magazine: "We're really open. I have friends - she's an actor-writer married to a director - and she was horrified when we said we were going to work together.

"She said they don't talk about work because they don't want to venture into the territory of being criticised by your partner. But I know what to do with criticism."

However, the 41-year-old star admits she doesn't listen to many people's opinions about her work.

She said: "I'm not focused on what other people think of me. Some people get you and some people don't, and to spend your life trying to make people understand how deep and complex and varied you are - I think that way lies madness."

Cate and Andrew also want to have another child, but predicts she will probably have another boy to add to their three sons, Dashiell, eight, Roman, six and Ignatius, two.

She said: "If the next one was a boy, then that's just our lot. It's true you do get a bit demented with three boys. But the chaos of it is great."