Cate Blanchett has been honoured for her film work, but said recent attacks in Paris and Beirut made her own efforts “feel very insignificant” in view of what’s happening in the world.

The Australian actress attended the Museum of Modern Art’s eighth annual film benefit, which raises funds so that important cinematic works can join the museum’s collection.

“All my efforts do feel very insignificant in view of what’s going on in the world at the moment, the horrific events in Europe and the Middle East,” Cate said, adding: “And the thousands of refugees who travel across the borders, and their plight, their peril has become even more precarious and difficult.”

Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett (Evan Agostini/Invision)

“But,” she added, “and this is going to sound like a massive justification — perhaps it is in the face of what’s going on in the world — sometimes you’re presented with the opportunity of working on projects that perhaps might last and perhaps have something interesting and important to say, and last year was definitely one of those years for me.”

She was referring to the two current movies that both are generating serious awards buzz for the two-time Oscar winner.

One is Truth, in which she plays the real-life role of CBS producer Mary Mapes, whose career ended following her report about George W Bush’s National Guard service.

In an earlier red carpet interview, Cate said she was “so fascinated to play the role of a real-life person in free fall in a very unexplored part of recent media history which I think it’s quite timely to think about, how we process and digest our news.”

The star’s latest film is Carol, adapted from the Patricia Highsmith novel, in which she plays a woman involved in a 1950s lesbian romance. “This movie was a labour of love for everyone involved,” she said.

Among those speaking at the tribute was Cate’s co-star in the 1997 movie Oscar And Lucinda, Ralph Fiennes, who spoke about her “eccentric and beautiful inner landscape”.

“You’re a great artist, Cate,” he said, “Thank you for sharing your gift with us.”

Cate Blanchett and Ralph Fiennes
Ralph Fiennes paid tribute to ‘great artist’ Cate (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Also speaking — in a videotaped message — was Woody Allen, who directed her Oscar-winning performance in Blue Jasmine. The famously reclusive filmmaker, who often shuns awards ceremonies, quipped that “mercifully, I had a prior engagement”.

He noted that before he directed Cate: “Everyone told me, ‘hire Cate Blanchett and she’ll make you look like a genius’.”

In the red carpet interview, Cate said the Museum of Modern Art had been influential on her “as a tourist, as someone lost in the city, as someone searching for a bit of inspiration.”

Others attending the evening’s event included director Martin Scorsese, and actresses Rooney Mara, Rose Byrne, Sarah Paulson, Jane Krakowski and Diane Kruger.

Diane Kruger
Diane Kruger (Evan Agostini/Invision)

Previous honourees have been Baz Luhrmann (2008), Tim Burton (2009), Kathryn Bigelow (2010), Pedro Almodovar (2011), Quentin Tarantino (2012), Tilda Swinton (2013), and Alfonso Cuaron (2014).