Cate Blanchett gave a royal performance on the red carpet at the London premiere of her new film Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

The Aussie actress dazzled fans in a stunning regal blue dress to celebrate the resurrection of her role as the flame-haired monarch.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age has already been tipped for a host of awards and is the sequel to the 1998 Oscar-winning Elizabeth.

But Blanchett, 38, said taking a lengthy break away from her royal role was essential to the character.

She said: "Even though this film is about the Spanish Armada and the moment when the golden age of English culture came into being, it's also about a women confronting the ageing process, so I needed nine years to get older."

The film is set in 1585, with Queen Elizabeth I continuing to face bloodlust for her throne and the lingering threat of family betrayal as she fends off a war with Spain.

Blanchett is joined by fellow Aussie thespian Geoffrey Rush who plays her close advisor Sir Francis Walsingham and Clive Owen who plays love interest Walter Raleigh in the historic thriller.

Owen could not make the red carpet affair but co-star Rhys Ifans was on hand to add a touch of debonair to the event, despite staying away from any questions about his rumoured romance with Sienna Miller.

The film hits cinemas on November 2.

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