2x Oscar Winner, 88, Is a Gray-Haired Goddess in Black at Cannes Opening Ceremony
Jane Fonda, 88, brought classic Hollywood glamour to the Cannes Film Festival once again.
The two-time Oscar winner turned heads Tuesday, May 12, while arriving for the opening ceremony of the 79th Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, France. For the occasion, Fonda wore a shimmering long-sleeved black gown covered in sequins, paired with a dramatic silver necklace and her signature gray curls styled in voluminous waves.
As photographers lined the iconic red carpet outside the Palais des Festivals, the actress posed confidently in front of a sea of flashing cameras, proving once again why she remains one of Cannes' most enduring style icons.
Fonda attended this year's festival as part of her longtime partnership with L'Oréal Paris, which is celebrating her 20th year with the brand during the 2026 festival. The actress is also expected to support the upcoming film Ceasefire, in which she portrays Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith.
The opening ceremony launched the 79th edition of Cannes with the world premiere of La Vénus Electrique (The Electric Kiss), a French romantic comedy directed by Pierre Salvadori. The festival's main competition jury this year includes Demi Moore, Chloé Zhao, Ruth Negga, Stellan Skarsgård and jury president Park Chan-wook.
Fonda has a long history with the Cannes Film Festival stretching back decades. In 2007, she received an honorary Palme d'Or recognizing her contributions to cinema, and she previously presented the festival's coveted Palme d'Or prize in 2023.
The actress has remained a major Hollywood figure across seven decades of film and television. Fonda won Academy Awards for Klute and Coming Home and earned additional Oscar nominations for films including They Shoot Horses, Don't They?, Julia, The China Syndrome and On Golden Pond.
Beyond acting, Fonda became a cultural phenomenon in the 1980s with her bestselling workout videos before later returning to acclaimed roles in projects like Grace and Frankie, Book Club and 80 for Brady.
Even among Cannes' endless parade of designer gowns and celebrity appearances, Fonda once again proved she knows exactly how to command a red carpet moment.
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This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 1:42 PM.