BAFTA Awards 2023: The Best Celebrity Looks on the Red Carpet

Cynthia Erivo in a structured metallic gown — Getty Images

The 2023 BAFTA Awards (AKA the British Academy Film Awards) took place over the weekend at the Royal Festival Hall in London. While the event wasn’t without controversy, some of the biggest names in Hollywood rolled up to the event dressed to the nines.

This year, the BAFTA Awards sparked backlash after all 49 winners across each of the categories were white. This is especially shocking since the winners did not reflect the nominees, of which just 60 per cent were white. Plus, the news comes just three years after the BAFTA Awards were criticized when all 20 acting nominees lacked diversity, inciting subsequent reform.

Many changes will need to be made to make the BAFTA Awards more inclusive, but plenty of the nominees still brought memorable looks to the red carpet, from Cynthia Erivo’s jaw-dropping metallic gown to Michelle Yeoh’s elegant Christian Dior pantsuit.

Check out the best celebrity looks on the red carpet at the 2023 BAFTA Awards below.

Michelle Yeoh

Leading actress nominee Michelle Yeoh (nominated for her iconic role in Everything Everywhere All at Once) donned a champagne Christian Dior suit, featuring sophisticated cape sleeves for a unique edge. Decked out in eye-catching jewellery, Yeoh opted for sleek straight hair and simple gold open-toed shoes.

Florence Pugh

Florence Pugh’s orange Nina Ricci by Harris Reed red carpet look was simply extraordinary. With ornate pleated tulle ruffles lining both the bustier and the mermaid train, Pugh surely turned plenty of heads at the BAFTA Awards this year.

“The dress is based on an orange couture gown from the @ninaricci archival 1988 collection,” Reed wrote on Instagram, according to People. “This was the first sketch I did for the brand and am absolutely speechless to have such an incredible individual wearing it.”

Cynthia Erivo

Upcoming Wicked star Cynthia Erivo had the red carpet wrapped around her finger with her extravagant metallic Louis Vuitton gown. The ultra-structured copper dress boasted stiff, futuristic fringe and a captivating train, which Erivo paired with metallic accessories and a gold clutch for a refined, yet edgy red carpet look.

Anya Taylor-Joy

Style icon Anya Taylor-Joy has once again brought a wow-factor to the red carpet with her shimmery, bold Schiaparelli Couture dress. The two-piece look boasted a mini, structured bustier dress alongside an extravagant, billowing stole, which draped over her head. Made of both velvet and satin, the mixed textures gave a metallic sheen to the champagne outfit.

Jodie Turner-Smith

Jodie Turner-Smith also opted for a metallic look, but in a much different way. Decked out in reflective silver panels with purple accents and blue-and-purple feathers, Turner-Smith went for a striking, elegant piece with her Gucci gown. With floral flairs and dotted gemstones on her face resembling a futurist faux freckle, the actress and model really honed in on a shimmery, yet graceful style.

Hong Chau

With memorable roles this year in The Whale and The Menu, Hong Chau is once again making waves with her head-turning Erdem gown. The off-the-shoulder asymmetrical dress features an elegant A-line boasting intricate black-and-white designs. Plus, Chau’s slicked back updo offers an even more polished edge to an already sophisticated look.

Nicola Coughlan

Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan also channeled elegance and grace with her white Valentino gown. With intricate black-and-white embroidered flowers with royal blue flares, Coughlan wowed on the 2023 BAFTA Awards red carpet.

“There’s something amazing about what [Valentino creative director] Pierpaolo Piccioli does — he thinks about every woman,” Coughlan tells British Vogue. “Valentino’s one of the only houses where I can wear [pieces] directly off the couture runway.”

Cate Blanchett

After inspiring viewers far and wide with her style in psychological drama Tár, Cate Blanchett is back with more outfit-inspo. Her black Maison Margiela gown, which she also wore for the 2015 Oscars, brought a subtle elegance to the BAFTA Awards red carpet. Alongside the dress, Blanchett donned some bold stacked Louis Vuitton necklaces, adding an eye-catching pop to the graceful neckline.

Hoyeon Jung

Hoyeon Jung’s classic gold Louis Vuitton ballgown featured a stunning bustier, which Jung opted to pair with a bold red lip for a little flare. Her punchy diamond necklace added a little more shimmer to the glittering gown, making for an intricate twist on a timeless look.

“We want to go a little bit classic so I’m wearing a custom-made gold bustier dress,” Jung teased to British Vogue prior to the 2023 BAFTA Awards.

Kate Middleton

Kate Middleton brought back her flowy, one-shoulder white gown on the 2023 BAFTA Awards red carpet. Made by Alexander McQueen and tweaked for this year’s event, the dress originally had its debut by Middleton at the 2019 BAFTAs, according to Vanity Fair. At the time, it was Middleton’s first red carpet appearance as the Princess of Wales, making the white gown, black opera gloves and gold shoes pretty special.