Cate Blanchett didn't need to do much research preparing for her role as a lesbian in Patricia Highsmith's Carol — the 45-year-old actress has had "many" lesbian relationships in the past.

Blanchett revealed as much to Variety this week, nonchalantly recalling times she had relationships with other women:

When asked if this is her first turn as a lesbian, Blanchett curls her lips into a smile. "On film — or in real life?" she asks coyly. Pressed for details about whether she’s had past relationships with women, she responds: "Yes. Many times," but doesn’t elaborate.

The Aussie actress hadn't previously let on that she'd had same-sex relationships in the past partly because, like her character in Carol, she doesn't appreciate labels.

"I never though about it. I don't think Carol thought about it," she said. "I think there are a lot of people that exist like [Carol] who don’t feel the need to shout things from the rafters."

Touted as the lesbian romance equivalent of "Brokeback Mountain," Carol is a period drama starring Blanchett as an older married woman who falls in love with young shopkeeper, played by Rooney Mara.

Check out a behind-the-scenes look at Carol below: