The Detail You May Not Have Noticed On Thandie Newton’s Cannes Dress

Thandie Newton

by Phoebe Parke |
Published on

We’ve been pouring over Cannes pictures for over a week now, and it’s the fascinating details that keep us coming back for more.

One of the most powerful details yet comes in the form of Thandie Newton’s Vivienne Westwood dress, which is overlaid with images of action figures of the black characters in the Star Wars universe.

Thandie Newton
©Shutterstock

Finn, who was played by John Boyega, Mace Windu, played by Samuel L. Jackson, Captain Panaka, played by Hugh Quarshie and Saw Gerrera, played by Forest Whitaker all made an appearance in action figure form. There doesn’t appear to be an image of Lando Calrissian from the original Star Wars trilogy.

The fact that there are only four of them is the subject of another article entirely, but Thandie’s homage is a moving one since she’s the first woman of colour to have a leading role in a Star Wars film, ever.

The dress is custom made and uses Westwood’s 'Absence of Roses' print, and the action figures are from Thandie’s own collection of figurines.

READ MORE: The Most Breathtaking Cannes Film Festival Looks So Far

Gallery

Cannes Film Festival red carpet 2018 - Grazia

Lea Seydoux1 of 25

Lea Seydoux

Lea Seydoux stuck to her French roots wearing a stunning sheer dress from fashion house Louis Vuitton for the Cannes Opening Ceremony. Featuring a sheer fringed skirt, one-shoulder halterneck detail and silver waist belt, it was heavenly enough to have been appropriate at the Met Gala over in New York, too.

Lea Seydoux2 of 25

Lea Seydoux

Seydoux channelled movie stars from Hollywood's Golden Age with soft finger waves, a cats-eye and doe-eyed makeup.

Cate Blanchett3 of 25

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett aced the Green Carpet Challenge for the festival's Opening Ceremony, rewearing a black lace Armani Prive gown from 2016. We can see why she would want to get this one back out of her closet - with its exquisite open back details, high neck and just-sheer-enough lace, it's a real head-turner (and proved lucky for her back at the 2016 Golden Globes too, where she won Best Actress for Blue Jasmine).

Lea Seydoux4 of 25

Lea Seydoux

Our forever style crush Chloe Sevingy and this strapless Chanel gown are a perfect match: who else could pull off the pleated fan bodice and contrasting metallic detail on the body of the dress so effortlessly?

Chloe Sevingy5 of 25

Chloe Sevingy

Makeup-wise, Sevingy kept her look simple, complementing the metallic details of her dress with silver eyeshadow and a nude lip, tucking her hair behind her ears to showcase her diamond earrings.

Kristen Stewart6 of 25

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart rocks a hybrid victory roll, Marcel waves hair style, which she's teamed with a bold smoky eye.

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem7 of 25

Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem

Off-screen couple and on-screen co-stars in the festival's opening film, Everybody Knows, Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem ruled the red carpet in matching black looks. Cruz chose a vintage tulle-trim Chanel gown which she accessorised with a piece from her new Atelier Swarovski collection.

Penelope Cruz8 of 25

Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz gives us a masterclass in how to do the modern smoky eye, using her kohl eyeliner sparingly above and below the lash line, with metallic grey eyeshadow and a single coat of mascara.

Julianne Moore9 of 25

Julianne Moore

We can't remember ever not loving something worn by Julianne Moore, and this red column dress with floor-length cape just screams 'Queen'.

Georgia May Jagger10 of 25

Georgia May Jagger

Georgia May Jagger stuck to a tried-and-tested red carpet formula and wore a slinky LBD with thigh-grazing split.

Penelope Cruz11 of 25

Penelope Cruz

Penelope Cruz brought glamour to the Everybody Knows photocall, choosing a black lace halterneck dress with asymmetric hem and sweetheart neckline.

Cate Blanchett12 of 25

Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett got the same pastel memo as Stewart, opting for a pale pink suit and matching shades.

Kristen Stewart and Cate Blanchett13 of 25

Kristen Stewart and Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett and Kristen Stewart doubled their star power in coordinating trouser suits and shades.

Kristen Stewart14 of 25

Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart proved why she's such a good ambassador for Karl Lagerfeld, oozing Riviera chic in a cornflower blue suit.

Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux, Ava DeVernay and Khadja Nin15 of 25

Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux, Ava DeVernay and Khadja Nin

The collective power of the women on the Cannes jury - Cate Blanchett, Kristen Stewart, Lea Seydoux, Ava DeVernay and Khadja Nin - was enough to distract the fashion set's focus from the Met Ball yesterday.

Marion Cotillard16 of 25

Marion Cotillard

Marion Cotillard defied the Cannes dress code by forgoing high heels. The actress wore a pair of knee-high lace-up Nicholas Kirkwood boots while promoting upcoming spy caper 355

Bella Hadid17 of 25

Bella Hadid

Fresh from the Met Gala's red carpet, Bella Hadid was in Cannes to promote Alexander Wang's collaboration with Magnum so obviously wore the aforementioned designer.

Irina Shayk18 of 25

Irina Shayk

Last year Bella Hadid may have reached new red carpet heights with her pelvis-skimming dress but Irina Shayk's Versace gown proved this Angel is in the game too.

Josephine Skriver19 of 25

Josephine Skriver

Trust Giambattista Valli and Chopard to deliver a jaw-dropping ensemble and Josephine Skriver to model it with aplomb.

Amber Heard20 of 25

Amber Heard

Amber Heard stuns in a backless Valentino gown.

Carey Mullgian21 of 25

Carey Mullgian

Carey Mulligan played it simple with a Dior dress to discuss the lack of representation of complex female characters in film. She bemoaned that woman are not, 'allowed to fail on screen'.

Stella Maxwell22 of 25

Stella Maxwell

Victoria's Secret model Stella Maxwell attended the Sorry Angel premiere in a silver Roberto Cavalli gown with a keyhole back.

Lupita Nyong'o23 of 25

Lupita Nyong'o

Lupita Nyong'o looked ethereal in a ruffled Dior dress at the Sorry Angel premiere.

Cate Blanchett24 of 25

Cate Blanchett

As Jury President, Cate Blanchett's glorious Mary Katrantzou dress lent a glamorous note to the screening of Cold War.

Leomie Anderson25 of 25

Leomie Anderson

Leomie Anderson brightened up the red carpet with this lemon confection from Twinset.

Newton will play the part of Val, a ‘no-nonsense and occasionally prickly woman who is a crack shot with a blaster rifle’ according to the Star Wars website, in the film which comes out in the UK on May 25.

She spoke about the landmark moment in an interview with Radio Times Magazine.

‘I'm the first woman of colour to have a prominent role in the Star Wars legacy’ she said.

‘There have been others with one line and Lupita Nyong'o was a computer generated character, but you didn't get to see the colour of her skin.

‘I'm the first. I'm going to have a toy and everything. It's exciting, but that's all I can say. It's a big deal.'

Thandie Newton and Donald Glover
©Shutterstock

Our current fave Donald Glover will also appear in the film, playing smooth-talking smuggler turned selfless leader Lando Calrissian.

WATCH NOW: 9 Ways To Get An Invite To The Met Gala

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