Possibly should’ve kept that one to yourself, Cate.
Parents draw inspiration for their children’s names from everywhere. Gwyneth Paltrow chose her favourite fruit. Kim Kardashian took inspiration from a budget airline.
And for Aussie actress/national treasure Cate Blanchett, 46, her middle son’s name pays homage to a very famous controversial figure.
Yes, 11-year-old Roman Upton, son of Blanchett and her husband Andrew Upton, is named after Roman Polanski, a controversial director who has been convicted of sex crimes involving a minor.
On Jimmy Kimmel Live! Blanchett spoke about the meaning behind her children’s names — Dashiell, Roman, Ignatius and Edith — and probably didn’t mean to admit that a criminal was the reason behind one of the names, but she did.
“You run out of ideas by the time you get to number three,” she said.
“Dashiell came from [famous American novelist] Dashiell Hammett. Roman, I don’t know… Polanski. But it’s also the French word for book.”
You can watch the interview below. Post continues after video.
Polanski was 43 when he was arrested for five counts of sexual abuse against a 13-year-old girl. He fled the country soon after and has been living in exile since 1978.
Probably should’ve stuck with the ‘book’ cover, Cate.
Click through the gallery below for photos of Cate Blanchett and her family.
Top Comments
When I read the headline I felt for SURE she had named her son Robert, after Robert Hughes (of Hey Dad...! fame) - the husband of her agent, Robyn Gardiner. Hughes is of course in jail for sexual abuse of minors.
I was named after an Actress who shot and killed her lover. What's the issue? People find inspiration everywhere when it comes to their kids names.