Cate Blanchett always puts her children before her career.

The Australian actress - who raises three sons, Dashiell, eight, Roman, five, and 22-month-old Ignatius, with her playwright husband Andrew Upton - admits she chooses her roles after first considering the impact the shoot will have on her family life.

The children need to be in school now
 She said: "With my film choices it used to be a question of, 'Who's directing it?' Now it's, 'How long is the shoot and where are they filming?' Recently I said yes to something because filming is in the Easter holidays. The children need to be in school now."

Cate and Andrew are the co-directors of the Sydney Theatre Company but, despite her heavy workload, the 40-year-old actress always organises her days around the school run.

The 'Elizabeth' star - who lives with her family in a Sydney suburb - added to Style magazine: "The main priorities are the children and the theatre. The day begins at about 5.30am - my youngest is an early riser. After breakfast, I walk the kids to school - they go to the state primary at the end of the street. Then I either work from home or go into the office at the theatre. Andrew and I job-share, so there's always someone to motor the family wheels."