Every year, thousands of Australians from all over the country pack their bags and make their yearly migration to the warmer waters of Europe. As winter settles in Down Under, the allure of the sun, sands, and blue waters north of the equator provide a welcome respite from the bitter cold.
Kicking off this annual pilgrimage is the Cannes Film Festival. Held in May, it heralds the start of the warming weather in Europe, the annual signal for celebrities to begin their summer holidays—despite still being spring. It’s regarded as one of the most glamorous affairs on the calendar, and despite being a celebration of the film industry, it never fails to draw celebrities from all walks of the cultural zeitgeist.
Over the course of the Festival, the highlights are of course, the premieres. Every night, the year’s newest films are debuted for critics, causing huge celebrations and long red carpets. Red carpets and ceremonies that Australians are not just taking part in, but have often been celebrated at, too.
We’ve seen so many Australians grace the famed red carpet, including Cate Blanchett, Margot Robbie, and Nicole Kidman, who are now sharing it with newer faces like Sophie Wilde and Olivia DeJonge. And of course, there’s a handful of New Zealanders, like model Georgia Fowler, who has since become an honorary Australian. All reputable well-dressers, the Antipodes has produced countless stars who have all gone on to make their mark on the Cannes red carpet over the years, each in their own unique ways.
Scroll on, for the most memorable times Australians have made their mark on the Cannes red carpet.