Cate Blanchett starts filming Stateless in Adelaide

Hollywood superstar Cate Blanchett is a familiar face on red carpets wearing designer gowns — now she’s in Adelaide, looking completely different for her new TV role.

Cate Blanchett filming TV drama series Stateless in Adelaide.

Hollywood superstar Cate Blanchett swapped the world of international glamour for a stint of hard work in wintry Adelaide this week where she is producing and starring in a TV series, Stateless.

Blanchett, who earlier this month wore black leather at the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2020 Fashion Show in New York City, looked remarkably different on location in Adelaide, apparently dressed for her role in the high-end TV series.

Cate Blanchett filming TV drama series Stateless in Adelaide.

It is understood she arrived in Adelaide last week to co-produce and star in an immigration drama that has spent more than four years in development.

She was pictured on location dressed down in a purple and pink pastel tracksuit with a cigarette in hand, being sheltered by a crew member holding a Bunnings umbrella.

Blanchett who initially planned to direct the series, is co-producing Stateless for the ABC and Screen Australia with her husband Andrew Upton and will star in the six-part series inspired by the wrongful detention of mentally-ill Australian woman Cornelia Rau.

Cate Blanchett attends the Louis Vuitton Cruise 2020 Fashion Show at JFK Airport.

In 2005 Rau was discovered in high security in the former Baxter Detention Centre near Port Augusta after absconding from a mental health facility in Sydney.

Once her identity was known, she was flown to Adelaide for psychiatric treatment and later received a $2.6 million for wrongful detention.

While inspired by Rau, the story has broadened to follow four people caught up in the system at a time of heightened focus on border security and protection.

Blanchett’s high-profile co-stars are UK actor Dominic West (Wired), Australian actors Asher Keddie (Offspring), Yvonne Strahovski (The Handmaid’s Tale) and Jai Courtney who returns to South Australia after filming Storm Boy in the Coorong in 2017.