Cannes in 11 spectacular red-carpet appearances from Natalie Portman to Bella Hadid

by Violaine Schütz, 

and Erwann Chevalier.

Published on 25 May 2023. Updated on 19 May 2026.

A$AP Rocky sets the 2025 Cannes Film Festival on fire

Among the most talked-about red carpet appearances at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, the premiere of Highest 2 Lowest unquestionably left a lasting impression. And for good reason. Spike Lee, the cult filmmaker behind Oldboy and Summer of Sam, gathered a stellar cast on the red carpet, along with a surprise guest who instantly propelled the evening into another media stratosphere.

At the center of every conversation, A$AP Rocky literally electrified the Croisette. As a regular at music award ceremonies and Fashion Weeks, the American rapper confirmed his new venture into cinema between two flashes of a swarm of photographers. But the real frenzy erupted after the screening, when he reunited with Rihanna. The singer came to support her husband in a radiant sky-blue gown.

Together, the two stars improvised an ultra-photogenic walkabout, multiplying affectionate gestures and spontaneous poses in front of cameras from around the world. Within minutes, the Highest 2 Lowest red carpet had already made history and became legendary.

The Olympic flame lights up the steps of the 2024 Cannes Film Festival

In May 2024, the worlds of culture and sport came together for an exceptional moment on the Croisette. At the Cannes Film Festival that year, photographers’ flashes burst across the red carpet on a rather special object.

As part of its journey across France ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, the Olympic Flame made a notable stop in Cannes, carried by four athletes specialising in Paralympic disciplines…

Judith Godrèche’s symbolic gesture at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival

In 2024, Judith Godrèche’s short film Moi aussi opened the Un Certain Regard section, making a striking impression. Her committed work echoes the many testimonies of abuse she received following her public statements about sexual violence. With this film, the French actress and director delivers a direct and vital response, affirming her determination to no longer remain silent.

During the film’s official presentation, she offered one of the first powerful images of the 77th Cannes Film Festival. Appearing alongside her daughter Tess Barthélemy, she placed her hands over her mouth. A highly symbolic gesture denouncing the silencing of victims of sexual violence and reminding the world of the urgent need to keep breaking the silence in front of the photographers’ flashes.

Madonna’s striptease wearing Jean Paul Gaultier in 1991

Madonna’s long career has been punctuated by scandals, hits, and stunts. In 1991, the star came to the Cannes Film Festival with the excellent documentary In Bed with Madonna and her team. During her alluring entrance on the red carpet, the sultry icon walked towards the movie theater for the screening, draped in a large pink cape, while her fans cheered her. A good girl outfit for a singer who is more used to bold looks. Except that once she reached the top of the steps, she stripped down to a Jean Paul Gaultier bustier with conical breasts, reminiscing the famous corset she wore during her Blond Ambition Tour. The hysteria was at its height back then.

Bella Hadid’s provocative slit red dress in 2016

Each time Bella Hadid has appeared on the steps of the Cannes Film Festival, she has instantly created a heat wave. Everyone still fondly remembers the model wearing a sublime Gucci vintage white dress and a Versace vintage strapless black dress in 2022. The year before, she caused a stir in a black dress with a gold brass lung necklace from the Schiaparelli Fall/Winter 2021 couture collection. She also wore a sculptural black and white vintage dress by Jean Paul Gaultier that same year. In 2019, she shone in Roberto Cavalli’s and Dior’s. Elie Saab’s and Dior’s designs enhanced her silhouette in 2018, while she appeared in Dior and Alexandre Vauthier in 2017.

Yet, her most talked-about look was probably her Alexandre Vauthier gown on the red carpet in Cannes in 2016. Although the supermodel later shared her regrets regarding that wardrobe choice, as the sexy aspect of the dress did not suit her character, that ultra-slit red gown has undoubtedly been one of the most provocative dresses in the history of the festival.

Kristen Stewart, barefoot and rock’n’roll, on the Cannes red carpet

According to the Cannes Film Festival’s traditional official dress code, it has always been strongly recommended for women to appear on the red carpet with an evening gown and a pair of dizzying stilettos. While some celebrities play the game to the full and dare to be extravagant, others would rather feel comfortable and ignore the guidelines. In 2018, the American actress and director Kristen Stewart made a name for herself when she took off her Louboutin pumps a few minutes after hitting the red carpet.

Can we read a fight against discomfort or a real feminist act? That day, she thumbed her nose at the rules, like the famous American actress and producer Julia Roberts did in 2016. While she was expected at the Palais des Festivals for the screening of Jodie Foster’s film Money Monster, in which she starred alongside George Clooney, the star of Pretty Woman showed up barefoot, with a smile and a simple but sumptuous Armani Privé black dress.

Sophie Marceau reveals her breast at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival

Disasters happen so quickly. Some celebrities invited onto the red carpet at the Cannes Film Festival sometimes find themselves in very uncomfortable situations to show off their sex appeal. Back in 2005, when the sound of cicadas was replaced by the crackling of flashbulbs, Sophie Marceau walked the red carpet to attend the screening of the film Where the Truth Lies by Canadian director Atom Egoyan. Dressed in a white and black dress with an ultra-plunging neckline, La Boum (1980) actress lost control of her outfit for a brief moment and accidentally revealed one of her breasts in front of the photographers.

As a result, the press talked about that mishap for months. Recently, Sophie Marceau talked about that moment of extreme solitude in the columns of the Journal du Dimanche. She wisely declared: “That was even before the madness of social media. It was an accident, that’s what makes it so moving. But it happens every day in real life”. Ten years later, in 2015, she inadvertently revealed her panties, this time on the Cannes red carpet.

Angelina Jolie, pregnant, with Brad Pitt, as a loving and glamorous couple in 2008

Every time they appear on the red carpet, either alone or with their children, Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie take the world by storm. At the 2012 Oscar ceremony, the actress’s Versace slit black gown showing off her entire – and sculptural – leg became a meme on the internet. But in 2008, as the couple appeared on the red carpet in Cannes, the excitement was at its height and the flashbulbs of the photographers almost had a stroke.

The main reason? Angelina Jolie, pregnant with twins, caused a sensational entrance wearing a green dress with a plunging neckline by Gerard Darel that magnified her baby bump. Other highlights? The heroine of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) was glowing in an Atelier Versace slit dress at Cannes in 2011, embodying the quintessential Hollywood glamour.

Natalie Portman walks the red carpet with her head shaved in 2005

In May 2005, Israeli-American actress Natalie Portman was in the middle of filming V for Vendetta (2006), James McTeigue’s thriller adapted from Alan Moore’s famous graphic novel. To portray Evey Hammond, a young woman caught in the turmoil of a totalitarian regime, the actress agreed to a radical transformation, shaving her hair on camera in what would become an iconic sequence.

A few weeks later, she climbed the steps of the Palais des Festivals in Cannes for the screening of Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith by George Lucas. Almost unrecognisable with her shaved head, Natalie Portman drew all the attention, embodying the beginning of a new chapter in her already remarkable career.

Björk and Catherine Deneuve, the irresistible and unexpected duo of the 2000 Cannes Film Festival

In May 2000, Björk and Catherine Deneuve attended the Cannes Film Festival to present Lars von Trier’s ambitious and deeply moving musical Dancer in the Dark (2000). Clearly delighted to be reunited, the Icelandic singer and the French actress formed an unexpected, yet moving and irresistible duo.

While the grande dame of French cinema wore an elegant black sequinned gown, the avant-garde musician chose a whimsical pleated pink organza look designed by Marjan Pejoski. It was the British-Macedonian designer who would go on to create Björk’s famous swan dress for the Oscar ceremony in 2001.

Uma Thurman and the explosive cast of Pulp Fiction in 1994

In 1994, the violent and wildly irreverent Pulp Fiction, already destined to become a cult classic, won the Palme d’Or in front a madding crowd. Many guests loudly booed the announcement, convinced that the film was undeserving of the prize. Quentin Tarantino’s explosive feature nevertheless gave rise to a series of unforgettable star appearances on the Croisette.

Festivalgoers were able to see John Travolta, Uma Thurman, Samuel L. Jackson, Bruce Willis and Maria de Medeiros gathered together. One of the greatest Cannes casts of all time…