Melbourne-born A-list actress Cate Blanchett has used her recent BAFTA win to promote solidarity with refugees.

Appearing at the British Academy of Film and Television Awards, where she accepted the award for best actress, Ms Blanchett said she has often been “struck” by how much she has in common with refugees.

“What I love about film is the way it draws us into compelling human themes to uncover the connective tissue that binds us all. Whenever I have met refugees – in places such as Lebanon, Jordan or Bangladesh, here in the UK, or back home in Australia – what has struck me has not been their ‘otherness’ but how many things we share in common,” she said.

The 53-year-old was among a group of other stars including Bill Nighy, Colin Farrell, and Michelle Yeoh all wearing a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees blue ribbon while on the red carpet at the BAFTAs.

The ribbon is a mark of solidarity with those who have fled their home country because of conflict or persecution.

Ms Blanchett, who won for her performance as a disgraced conductress in the film ‘Tar’, was joined was joined in wearing the ribbon by Olympic swimmer Yusra Mardini, who called for “peace” in the world as she paid tribute to those in her home country of Syria, which, along with Turkey, has been devastated by Earthquakes, which have so far claimed the lives of more than 46,000 people.

“It’s really incredible to see so many artists wear a blue ribbon tonight in solidarity with refugees and displaced people around the world. Especially right now after the recent earthquakes in Turkey and my home country of Syria. My people – and so many others – are hurting. They need our support. We all need peace,” Ms Mardini said.

Also on the red carpet was ‘Loki’ star Gugu Mbatha-Raw, who described the ribbon a “symbol of solidarity” to those who have had to flee their home countries because of conflict.

“This ribbon is a symbol of our solidarity to all those who have been forced to flee their homes whoever they are and wherever they have come from,” she said.

Ms Blanchett became a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, in 2016.

In January of 2020, she appeared at the Berlin Film Festival for the premiere of the TV series, ‘Stateless’, which she co-created and executive produced.

The show touched on issues of asylum, detention and broader themes of identity as well as providing an opportunity to examine the issue of statelessness.

At the time, Ms Blanchett said “We live in a world where about one per cent of humanity is now displaced as a result of conflict or persecution”.

“Through Stateless, I hope to prompt people to rethink how we all are responding to the current displacement crisis.”

The show launched on ABC Australia, before going global on Netflix in July 2020.

Ms Blanchett also authored a powerful ‘Letter of Hope’ for a global initiative by Vogue in August 2020 and her advocacy for refugees was honoured as part of the Variety Power of Women series.