John Travolta grabbed attention at the Cannes Film Festival not just for his new movie, but for an unexpected fashion change that quickly went viral online. The Grease star arrived with a darker beard, round glasses, and several oversized berets, giving himself the look of a classic European filmmaker while promoting his first movie as a director.
John Travolta reveals what inspired him to go for a beret at Cannes
John Travolta later explained that the unusual style, complete with glasses and berets were completely intentional. While speaking to CNN, the actor said he wanted this Cannes appearance to feel memorable after spending more than five decades attending film events. “I’m a director this time,” he recalled telling himself. “You’re an actor, play the part of a director, look like an old-school director.”
To create the look, Travolta researched famous directors from past decades. He said he studied photos from the 1920s through the 1960s and noticed many classic filmmakers wore berets and distinctive glasses. That became the inspiration behind his Cannes wardrobe. Travolta described the style as an “homage to being a director,” adding, “I’m going to play the part of being a director.”
The actor attended Cannes to premiere Propeller One-Way Night Coach, his directorial debut. The film was screened at the Cannes Premiere section rather than the main competition lineup, meaning it was not eligible for the festival’s top prize, the Palme d’Or. Still, Travolta ended up receiving one of the event’s biggest honors anyway. On Friday, Cannes awarded him an honorary Palme d’Or recognizing his decades-long contribution to cinema (via EW).
During his acceptance speech, Travolta told festival director Thierry Frémaux, “This is a humbling moment. This is beyond the Oscar.” His connection with Cannes stretches back years through movies like Pulp Fiction, which won the Palme d’Or in 1994, along with classics such as Grease and Saturday Night Fever. Those films helped turn Travolta into one of Hollywood’s biggest stars and still remain fan favorites decades later.
