High Contrast
"There's a thousand different mes," Cate says. Bill Blass black dress. Fred Leighton, Camilla Deitz Bergeron, and Smithwick Dillon jewelry, left. Proenza Schouler gold bustier bodysuit, right.

In this story: fashion editor, Tonne Goodman; sittings editor, Hamish Bowles; hair, Julien d'Ys; makeup, Gucci Westman for Lancôme; set design, Piers Hanmer. Cate Blanchett air travel courtesy of Qantas.
Photo: Annie Leibovitz