NEW YORK - A new movie about Bob Dylan is the first dramatic portrayal of his life and music that the reclusive performer has approved, but Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett says fans may struggle to understand it.

After all, she plays one of six Bob Dylans -- the others are Richard Gere, Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Ben Whislaw, and young black actor Marcus Carl Franklin in his movie debut.

"It doesn't make sense in terms of it being a non-conventional narrative. I think it definitely makes sense but in a dreamlike musical way. You have to let the film wash over you," the Australian actress said of "I'm Not There."

"The fact that director Todd Haynes fractured Dylan's musical journey and persona into six different characters, none of whom are called Bob Dylan -- it's unusual," the 38-year-old actress said in an interview at the New York Film Festival this week.

While not meant to be a direct mimic of Dylan, Blanchett's hair is dark and frizzy like the singer's and she adopts some of his mannerisms. But the actress said she needed extra help to become more masculine -- by putting socks down her pants.

"There was a scene where I was lounging on the bed and I saw Todd looking a little pensive and my friend who was doing make up, looking a little pensive and they both had the same thought at the same time, that maybe it was a bit too feminine

-- I needed a bit of 'hamburger helper'," she said.