Carey Mulligan captured our hearts on the big screen in Maestro, and now she has captivated us on the Oscars red carpet.
The Great Gatsby star made her majestic arrival tonight at Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre for the biggest night in film in an ensemble that was so good, it makes us want to sing. Mulligan looked grand opera ready in a glorious velvety black gown that featured a sweetheart neckline and a flared-out mermaid skirt, with a scalloped hem layered over a second voluminous cream tulle skirt. Fittingly, she paired the custom Balenciaga creation with long inky-black gloves and classic diamond stud earrings by Fred Leighton. For beauty, Mulligan glammed up with minimal, fresh makeup and styled her signature blonde bob straight with a middle part.
This is a big night for Mulligan, who is up for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her portrayal of Costa Rica–born actor Felicia Montealegre in Maestro. The romantic drama—written, produced, and directed by Bradley Cooper—follows the relationship between Montealegre and famed American composer Leonard Bernstein (played by Cooper). The biopic has received seven Oscar nominations, including Actor in a Leading Role, Best Picture, and Writing (Original Screenplay).
This marks Mulligan’s third Oscar nomination, as she was up for Leading Actress in 2010 for her performance in An Education (the award went to Sandra Bullock, for The Blind Side) and again in 2021 for her performance in Promising Young Woman (it went to Frances McDormand, for Nomadland). This year, she is up against Lily Gladstone (Killers of the Flower Moon), Emma Stone (Poor Things), Sandra Hüller (Anatomy of a Fall), and Annette Bening (Nyad).
Mulligan has yet to win an award on this year’s circuit, having lost in the Best Actress categories at the Golden Globes, Critics Choice Awards, BAFTA Awards, and SAG Awards; however, her red-carpet fashion has deservingly been topping best-dressed lists. In an homage to her Maestro character, Mulligan has been embracing Old Hollywood glamour in elegant black gowns all season long—including an archival Schiaparelli lobster dress that featured a fabulous asymmetrically cut bust decorated in silver sequins and crystals, which she wore to the 81st Golden Globes.
