Cannes Film Festival 2023: Iris Law, Naomi Campbell and Viola Davis lead best dressed

Joe Bromley and Maddy Mussen

Thu, 18 May 2023 at 11:09 am BST

The red carpet has been rolled out and the 2023 Cannes Film Festival has officially begun.

France’s most spectacular celebration of cinema kicked off on Tuesday for the 76th time, with an opening ceremony and screening of ‘Jeanne du Barry’. The film sees Johnny Depp play King Louis XV in his controversial return to the silver screen following his US libel case with Amber Heard last year.

Depp, unsurprisingly, turned most heads on arrival as he walked in alongside his co-star and the film’s director Maïwenn, despite them both choosing to wear sombre black for the occasion.

Other stars, though, looked altogether more celebratory. Brie Larson, who we can expect to see much of as a member of this year’s jury panel, stood out from her co-judges in billowing gold silk gown with an embroidered V-neck top worn over. It was first seen on Chanel’s Resort 2024 catwalk; all three of her first outfits on the French Riviera have been from Chanel, as she stays loyal to her ambassadorship contract.

Statements came from Helen Mirren, who dyed her tufted hair various shades of blue to match her silk Del Core gown, while Elle Fanning wore the most intricately constructed gown of the opening night: an Alexander McQueen dress, complete with silver, beaded bodice and cascading, pale pink tulle train encrusted with diamantés.

On the supermodel front, Naomi Campbell led the way in an Old Hollywood-esque, silver sequined Celine gown with diamond cuffs from Chopard and some bug-style white sunglasses. Also in attendance was the Brazilian former Victoria’s Secret star Alessandra Ambrosio, who dug into the archives to find her pink, sheer and sparkling hooded Elie Saab Couture look from the autumn/winter 2005 collection.

Catherine Zeta-Jones instead opted for a more recent Elie Saab outfit, as she arrived in a flowing red and fuschia ombré gown from the spring/summer 2022 collection. The long-time Welsh star, who is enjoying refreshed acclaim thanks to her role in Netflix’s ‘Wednesday’, waved from the steps with her husband and Honorary Palme d’or of the festival, Michael Douglas, as well as their daughter Carys Zeta Douglas.

The next day brought a host of looks from the star-studded guest list in attendance for the screening of Monster, a Japanese film about school bullying from director Kore-Eda Hirokazu. Saint Laurent was in abundance, with models Iris Law and Soo Joo Park both representing the brand on the red carpet. Law stayed true to her love of nearly-naked dressing with her black mesh camisole and mid-length skirt combo, pulled together with a waist belt, black leather gloves and humungous hoop earrings.

Also in Saint Laurent was actress Laura Harrier, who joined the monochrome-heavy red carpet in a black scoop-bust gown with a shawl neck that bled into the back of her dress, paired with slicked back hair and Bulgari jewellery.

The other side of the monochrome palette could be seen on actress Gemma Chan, who looked positively bridal in her ivory Louis Vuitton caped gown with added sequin detailling around the structured skirt. Viola Davis was also a vision in white, arriving at the Monster screening covered in a plume of ostrich-esque feathers.

Her gown (and feathered coat) were Valentino Couture, complemented by Chopard jewellery. The vast coat also featured tiny strands of silver tinsel which glittered as she swanned about on the red carpet.

The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 16-28. Click through the gallery at the top of the page for the best looks from the red carpet.