Cate Blanchett made a passionate speech as she accepted an honorary doctorate last week.

The 'Blue Jasmine' actress was honoured by Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia, for her extraordinary contribution in the field of arts, philanthropy and community and used her time on the podium to hail the arts as a "driver of innovation and exploration".

She said: "The arts are what we stay alive for, what we work for all week, what we dream about, what connects us and indeed, what some will say makes us human.

"Within this broad church is housed a myriad of professions -- professions which some of you will participate in, help change, shape and evolve and I'd like to say today that it is the arts that have always been the driver of innovation and exploration."

The 45-year-old star - who has sons Dashiell, 12, Roman, 10, and Ignatius, six, with husband Andrew Upton - went on to stress the value of studying the arts.

She added: "A culture that supports change, adaptation and experimentation is the only way that a scientist can find the mental space to explore and innovate. So remember when someone asks, 'What the hell can you do with an arts degree?', ask them '"hat can the world do without one?' "