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Naomi Ackie Serves Wickedly Sexy Goth Glam on the ‘Clayface’ Press Trail, and Gotham Has Never Looked This Dangerous

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A horror press tour is one of the few places where dressing like a villain counts as marketing. DC’s ‘Clayface‘ is a gnarly body-horror outing rather than a capes-and-cosmic-stakes blockbuster, so its cast has plenty of license to lean into the dark side. Naomi Ackie has taken that invitation and run with it.

The actress is known for ‘Blink Twice,’ ‘Mickey 17’ and playing Whitney Houston in ‘I Wanna Dance with Somebody.’ Working with stylist Nicky Yates, she has kept every appearance dark and feminine, with a modern twist on gothic style that has fashion editors paying close attention.

Her newest ‘Clayface’ press images keep that streak alive. In one, she leans against the wall of an elevator in a black, corseted look with sharp, structured shoulders and a textured finish. In the other, a close-up shows her braids pulled back, a steady gaze and soft, glowing makeup.

The tour kicked off with the Los Angeles premiere on October 13, where she wore a black Gucci pre-fall 2026 one-shoulder gown with a thigh-high slit. Knee-high boots filled in the exposed space, and diamond-and-emerald earrings finished the look.

In London, the mood turned even moodier. At a photo call, she wore a Colleen Allen cut-out cardigan paired with a gothic embroidered sheer skirt. Later, she went incognito in a hooded Issey Miyake mini and dark sunglasses for a screening.

The strongest moment came at the London premiere on October 20 at the Curzon Mayfair. Ackie wore a Dilara Fındıkoğlu look from the label’s fall 2025 collection: a black knee-length snakeskin-style dress with a sharp bustier bodice, padded shoulders and bondage-inspired lacing running down the sleeves and skirt.

Pointed-toe Paris Texas slingbacks and Jessica McCormack earrings kept the focus on the corset. One style site called the ensemble pure “malevolent glamour,” and it’s hard to argue.

The styling isn’t random. Ackie plays Dr. Caitlyn Corr, the ambitious scientist whom disfigured actor Matt Hagen (Tom Rhys Harries) turns to for a radical treatment. Her character has been compared to Elizabeth Holmes, and a sleek, armored and slightly dangerous wardrobe matches that energy.

W Magazine pointed out that Ackie has skipped the smudged lipstick and black turtlenecks associated with Holmes. Instead, she leaned into a high-fashion version of a Gotham City baddie. The timing is well placed, as Nathan Fielder’s documentary ‘You Can See Everything’ has put Holmes back at the center of conversation.

The movie itself has drawn a more mixed response than the red carpet. ‘Clayface’ currently sits at 75% on Rotten Tomatoes and 59/100 on Metacritic. One critic praised the British leads, noting that Harries channels Demi Moore in ‘The Substance’ while Ackie plays a biotech renegade in the mold of Holmes.

Others were less impressed, with 1 reviewer calling the film frustrating and lacking in character development. Another South China Morning Post critic gave it 3.5 out of 5 stars, calling it a grisly but delicious tale of Hollywood excess.

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Naomi Ackie Turns the ‘Clayface’ London Premiere Into a Wickedly Sexy Gothic Fashion Moment

The film is directed by James Watkins and opens in North America on October 23. Early box office signals are mixed, with Thursday previews reportedly pulling in $3.5 million and projections for the opening weekend ranging from $20 million to $25 million.

If the film can find its audience, Ackie’s fashion moment may end up being as memorable as the movie.

Which of Naomi Ackie’s Clayface press-tour looks is your favorite?

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