The 45-year-old 'Blue Jasmine' actress was honoured by Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and made a passionate speech as she accepted the honour, reported Femalefirst.
"The arts are what we stay alive for, what we work for all week, what we dream about, what connects us and indeed, what some will say makes us human," Blanchett said.
"Within this broad church is housed a myriad of professions -- professions which some of you will participate in, help change, shape and evolve and I'd like to say today that it is the arts that have always been the driver of innovation and exploration," she added.