Cate Blanchett Pays Tribute to Heath Ledger

A glowing Cate Blanchett arrives at the 2008 Film Independent’s Spirit Awards held at Santa Monica Beach on Saturday in Santa Monica, Calif.

Cate the Great was on hand to collect the best supporting actress prize for her gender-defying turn as Bob Dylan in I’m Not There.

“It’s kind of cruel to make a pregnant lady waddle this far,” Cate joked at the beginning of her acceptance speech.

Cate, 38, paid tribute to fellow Aussie Heath Ledger, who died in January after accidentally consuming a lethal cocktail of drugs.

She described Heath, who also featured in I’m Not There, as one of the most “beautiful independent spirits of all.”

15+ pictures inside of Cate Blanchett paying tribute to Heath Ledger…