Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett, an Australian actress born in 1969, plays the role of Jasmine Francis, a widow who is in financial ruin and whose life is in shambles. Blanchett's portrayal of Jasmine is perhaps most notable in her continuous mutterings to herself about her character's past throughout the film.
Blanchett first appeared in a feature film playing the role of a nurse in the 1997 movie Paradise Road. The film received mixed reviews, and did not bring in much at the box office. Later in the same she appeared in Oscar and Lucinda, a romantic drama that brought her widespread acclaim.
During the early 2000's, she played the role of elf leader Galadriel in the famed trilogy The Lord of the Rings, which earned her further praise. Her role in Blue Jasmine led to a new segment of her career in which she was typically the star of independent films. One of her most successful films was Elizabeth (1998). She won a Golden Globe Award as well as a BAFTA Award for Best Actress for portraying Queen Elizabeth I.
Sally Hawkins
Sally Hawkins is an English actress who began her acting career in 1998. In the film Blue Jasmine, she plays the role of Ginger, who is a supporting character to Jasmine Francis. Ginger is Jasmine's sister and provides her a place to stay while she is in San Francisco. The two do not get along perfectly, but they are able to stand each other.
Blue Jasmine is one of two films directed by Woody Allen that Hawkins has appeared in, the other being Cassandra's Dream. For her role in Blue Jasmine, Hawkins received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Hawkins has also been featured in theatre productions, first appearing on Broadway in 2010. Some of her most successful stage roles were as Vivie in Mrs. Warren's Profession and in the Royal Court Theatre production Constellations.
Alec Baldwin
Alec Baldwin is an American actor and film producer who has worked with director Woody Allen on a number of films, including Blue Jasmine. Baldwin's role as Hal in the film is mostly through posthumous memories that Jasmine has of her husband.
Born in 1958, Baldwin has received numerous Primetime Emmy, Golden Globe, and Seven Actors Guild Awards. Alongside film, he has done voice work for several animated films such as The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie and Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. Some of the most successful movies in which Baldwin had a starring role are Drunk Parents, The Aviator, The Departed, and Still Alice.
