STYLE EVOLUTION

Natalie Portman’s Best Red Carpet Moments Strike a Balance Between Romance and Power

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Natalie Portman attends the 92nd Annual Academy Awards
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Natalie Portman has done it all in Hollywood: she’s been a Marvel hero and Star Wars queen, but also an award winner for roles as varied as “traumatized ballerina” to First Lady. It’s no surprise, then, that with decades of red carpet experience under her (often Dior) belt, Portman has found her perfect style groove. The actress always manages to strike a balance between a romantic vision of Hollywood glamour and power. She loves nothing more than to make a statement on the red carpet, and she’s certainly not afraid to take risks (especially with a love of embellished gowns). Below, take a peek back at Portman’s best red carpet moments from over the years.

2023: May December London Screening
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Portman looked in charge with this Schiaparelli look from the brand’s fall 2023 collection for the London screening of May December.

2023: Academy Museum Gala
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Portman’s version of the sheer trend is unsurprisingly entirely elegant—as evidenced by this semi-transparent Dior gown she sported for the 2023 Academy Museum Gala.

2023: Gotham Awards
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Portman looked angelic for the 2023 Gotham Awards in this Dior couture gown complete with delicate floral applique.

2023: May December Los Angeles Premiere
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Portman might have been attending the May December premiere, but her spike-ball Schiaparelli mini dress was full on Black Swan.

2023: May December Premiere
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If Portman’s dress at the Cannes premiere of her film, May December, looks familiar, that’s because it’s a direct recreation of Christian Dior’s famous Junon dress from the designer’s autumn/winter 1949/50 collection.

2023: Cannes Film Festival
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Portman stuck to a similar color scheme for her other Cannes appearance in 2023, attending the premiere for The Zone of Interest in a silver and blue sequin-covered dress from Dior’s fall/winter 2017 collection.

2023: Angel City Premiere
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The actress took a bit of a style risk and wore short shorts on the red carpet with a matching black bouclé jacket from Miu Miu.

2022: Thor: Love and Thunder UK Screening
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Portman channeled her character in Black Swan when she wore this shortened version of a Dior resort 2023 dress to a screening of Thor: Love and Thunder.

2022: Thor: Love and Thunder LA Premiere
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For the LA premiere of Thor, Portman tapped Celine to design this sparkly pink mini dress with a unique, asymetric neckline.

2022: Vanity Fair Oscar Party
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While the original version of this Dior spring 2020 haute couture dress was almost completely sheer, Portman had the forest green piece lined for the Vanity Fair Oscar party.

2020: Oscars
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Portman wore a beautiful gold and black Dior 2020 spring haute couture dress to the 2020 Oscars, but the real standout piece of the look was the cape she wore on top, which featured the names of female directors written on the edge of the lapels in gold script.

2019: Avengers: Endgame Premiere
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While Portman might not be in any of the Avengers films, she attended the premiere of the final movie in 2019, wearing a look from Dior fall 2019, featuring a sleeveless top and silk skirt.

2018: Venice International Film Festival
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Portman amped up the glam with this custom Gucci dress at a screening of Vox Lux at the the 75th Venice Film Festival.

2018: Eating Animals Screening
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The actress embraced her quirkier side with this tiered polkadot Miu Miu dress at the Eating Animals screening in June 2018.

2018: Annihilation Premiere
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The premiere of Annihilation called for this fun tulle Valentino pre-fall 2018 dress, which featured cap sleeves and a velvet bodice.

2018: Golden Globe Awards
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Portman kept it simple for the 2018 Golden Globe awards, opting to wear a black velvet Dior couture gown.

2017: SAG Awards
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A pregnant Portman attended the 2017 SAG Awards in this regal ivory Dior spring 2017 gown.

2017: Golden Globe Awards
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Portman wore this canary yellow vintage Prada dress to the Golden Globe Awards in January 2017.

2016: Jackie Screening
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Wearing an embroidered Dior gown topped with a white blazer, Portman attended a screening of Jackie.

2016: Toronto International Film Festival
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Portman wore a collared Dior dress to the premiere of Planetarium at the Toronto Film Festival in September 2016.

2016: Jane Got a Gun Premiere
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Portman added to the drama of this embroidered Valentino dress with a deep red lip at the premiere of Jane Got a Gun in January 2016.

2015: Cannes Film Festival
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Red is always a good choice, which is likely why Portman chose to wear this Dior dress to the opening ceremony of the 2015 Cannes Film Festival

2015: Vanity Fair Oscar Party
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While the front of this ivory Dior dress is fairly simple, it’s the plunging open back that gives it a bit of an unexpected wow factor.

2015: Thor: The Dark Kingdom Berlin Premiere
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No, Portman didn’t wear this white, strapless Dior ballgown to her wedding, but to the Berlin premiere of Thor: The Dark Kingdom.

2013: New York City Ballet Gala
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Portman had some fun with texture and chose this tri-colored Dior fall 2013 couture gown for the New York City Ballet Gala in September 2013.

2012: Oscars
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Though she stuck with her go-to designer, Dior, for the 84th Annual Academy Awards, Portman mixed it up a bit by choosing a vintage gown for the occasion.

2011: Oscars
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Portman experimented a bit with color at the 2011 Oscars, opting to wear this purple, off-the-shoulder Rodarte dress for the occasion.

2011: SAG Awards
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The actress showed off her growing baby bump in a white Azzaro spring 2010 column dress at the SAG Awards in January 2011.

2011: Golden Globe Awards
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This petal pink Viktor & Rolf couture dress is gorgeous, but it’s the Swarovski crystal-covered rose on Portman’s bust that really makes the piece.

2010: Black Swan Premiere
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Portman stuck with her favorite color, black, for the premiere of Black Swan, opting to wear this off-the-shoulder Dior resort 2011 gown.

2010: Venice International Film Festival
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This Swarovski crystal-embellished Rodarte dress allowed Portman to stand out during the Black Swan premiere at the 67th Venice International Film Festival.

2008: amfAR Benefit
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Portman looked like a work of art in this structured Givenchy spring 2008 couture dress at amfAR's Cinema Against AIDS 2008 benefit in May 2008.

2005: Star Wars III: Revenge of the Sith Screening Afterparty
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Showing off her shaved head, Portman attended the Star Wars screening after party in a black strapless dress with a velvet bodice and tiered skirt.

2005: Oscars
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Portman wore a Grecian-style Lanvin dress to the 2005 Oscars.

2004: Garden State Event
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The actress kept it casual during the opening night of Drive-In Movies At The Rock, opting to wear a turquoise floral wrap dress for the occasion.

2003: American Cinematheque Award
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While this sheer, crystal-covered dress could have been very risqué, Portman opted to wear it with a slip to the 18th Annual American Cinematheque Award.

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