Lily James’ Ruffled Red Cut-Out Gown Shut Down the 2023 Golden Globes Carpet
Lily James, Golden Globes nominee for Best Performance by an Actress in a Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television, may not have walked away a winner at the ceremony last night, but her dress stole the show on the red carpet.
The Pam & Tommy actress and Only Natural Diamonds ambassador stepped out in a scarlet cut-out Versace dress and sparkling Harry Winston jewelry. Her hair was styled in a ’90s-esque lob, and she knew exactly how to pose in the gown to give it—and the diamonds—a proper moment. The natural diamond choker and earrings pay homage to Old Hollywood and feature stunning complementary accent stones.
James recently spoke to ELLE UK about transforming into Pamela Anderson for the series while discussing her new role as a Charlotte Tilbury beauty ambassador.
“I tried my hardest to totally embody her; as an actor it was my job to really go there,” James said of preparing to play Anderson. “I spent four hours in the makeup chair everyday. I had a prosthetic forehead, the tiny eyebrows, the enhanced lips—I’m now obsessed with the lip liner that just goes right over your cupid’s bow. When I work with makeup artists now I’m like, ‘Baby, draw it way over that lip line.’ Eyebrows-wise, I’d never go thin, though. Charlotte [Tilbury] says eyebrows are the pillars of your face and I feel like I need big pillars!”
While dressed in character, James felt empowered. The experience of becoming Anderson and seeing the end result, “was wild,” James said. “I had these prosthetic boobs on all the time and sometimes I’d forget I was wearing them and I’d change my top in front of the whole crew and technically I looked naked and they’d be like, ‘Whoa, Lily!’ and I’d be like they’re not mine don’t worry!”
“I also felt really powerful,” she continued. “Pamela is so beautiful, she’s a goddess, but it’s her confidence, her sexuality, her celebration of who she is and really owning that, that was the hardest bit for me to get. Channelling that confidence was really inspiring and it’s something I want to hold onto for myself. Everyone says it but really confidence is beauty and anything you can do to enhance that confidence is the trick to life.”
Senior News and Strategy Editor
Alyssa Bailey is the senior news and strategy editor at ELLE.com, where she oversees coverage of celebrities and royals (particularly Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton). She previously held positions at InStyle and Cosmopolitan. When she’s not working, she loves running around Central Park, making people take #ootd pics of her, and exploring New York City.