'Yes, yes, we're expecting a baby in April which is very exciting,' she told reporters at the Sydney premiere of 'Elizabeth: The Golden Age' late on Saturday.

Blanchett, 38, and her Australian playwright husband Andrew Upton already have two sons; Dashiel, five, and Roman, three.

The pregnancy is not expected to stop the Oscar-winner from taking up her appointment, with Upton, as joint artistic director of the Sydney Theatre Company in January.

The appointment has sparked some controversy within the Sydney theatre community, with one actor quitting the prestigious troupe, saying 'an Oscar for acting is not a suitable recommendation to run the biggest theatre company in the country'.

Blanchett won an Oscar in 2005 for her portrayal of Katharine Hepburn in 'The Aviator'. -- AFP