Pam and Tommy star Lily James has swapped out the red bathing suit for a diaphanous pink Atelier Versace gown for the 94th Academy Awards in Los Angeles. The 32-year-old James is one of the many thespians who will be presenting the awards tonight if not up for one herself.
Lily James in Atelier Versace at the #Oscars. More red carpet later on our site. pic.twitter.com/21GOgnFqdS
— Tom and Lorenzo (@tomandlorenzo) March 27, 2022
From the FW21 Couture collection, James has taken a paired back approach with the lace creation by keeping jewellery and hair minimal. In fact, James seems to be channeling the style of fellow English actress and Versace fan and muse Elizabeth Hurley, whose signature red carpet look of soft hair and natural make-up always let the dress speak for itself.
Which would be an incredibly meta moment. Hurley is also famous for her friendship with Pamela Anderson, with the pair regularly caught partying in pictures during the early ’00s. James has just been granted rave reviews for her role as the titular character and former Baywatch star in the biography Pam and Tommy (now streaming on Disney and worth the binge watch. Also – does this mean that Pamela Anderson is now a Disney Princess? Personally, it’s a yes from me.)
According to reports, James’ incredible transformation into the infamous physicality that Pamela Anderson is known for was achieved entirely at home with a virtual personal trainer. And some prosthetics. But the end results speak for themselves, with James and Anderson looking practically indistinguishable from the other.
Tonight’s Academy Awards marks the first time in two years that a major red carpet has been held for the event at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre. Without putting much pressure on, this could be a make or break moment for an event that has lagged in ratings. Those at the head of the table are said to be quietly hoping that after two years of cancelled plans and very little glitz on the screen, people will turn to the Awards for a touch of escapism.
