‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’ Star Florence Pugh Makes a Stunning Return to the Venice Film Festival After Years Away

Venice has long served as one of the industry’s most reliable stages for red carpet fashion moments, and this year’s lineup of A-list arrivals has already delivered plenty to talk about. With premieres, photocalls, and parties stretching across 11 days on the Lido, the 83rd edition of the festival has kept both film critics and fashion watchers equally busy.

Among the wave of stars making their way through Venice this week is Florence Pugh, who has once again captured attention with her presence at the festival. The actress, known for her roles in projects like ‘Little Women’ and ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ has become something of a fixture on prestigious European red carpets over the years.

This marks Pugh’s first return to the Venice Film Festival since she last walked its red carpet back in 2022 for the premiere of ‘Don’t Worry Darling,’ where her fashion choices throughout that press tour became just as talked-about as the film’s off-screen drama. Her reappearance this year has already sparked renewed attention to her evolving red carpet style.

For her arrival at this year’s festival, Pugh opted for a head-to-toe navy ensemble courtesy of Max Mara, paired with matching Max Mara sunglasses and a black Chloé Paddington bag to round out the monochrome look. A gold Bvlgari watch added a final touch of polish to the understated arrival outfit.

That choice stands in sharp contrast to her most memorable Venice appearances from 2022, when she leaned into far bolder statements, including a shimmering off-shoulder Valentino gown covered in silver embellishments for the ‘Don’t Worry Darling’ premiere itself. The shift from maximalist glamour to sleek, minimalist tailoring reflects a broader evolution in how Pugh has approached red carpet dressing in recent years.

Pugh’s return comes during a particularly buzzy edition of the festival, which is being led by an international jury presided over by Maggie Gyllenhaal. The main competition lineup this year includes 21 films, with titles like Lance Oppenheim’s Robert Pattinson-led thriller ‘Primetime’ and Florian Zeller’s ‘Bunker,’ starring Penélope Cruz and Javier Bardem, generating significant early buzz among festival attendees.

Beyond the main competition, this year’s slate also features Danny Boyle’s ‘Ink,’ a biographical drama about the early years of Rupert Murdoch’s newspaper career starring Guy Pearce, alongside a wide range of documentaries and directorial efforts from names like Russell Crowe and Wim Wenders. The sheer scale of this year’s programming has made the Lido one of the industry’s most concentrated gatherings of talent in recent memory.

Pugh’s history with Venice carries some emotional weight beyond fashion alone. During her 2022 visit, she was famously joined on the red carpet by her grandmother, a moment that went viral after the two shared an impromptu dance together, adding a personal, heartfelt layer to what had otherwise been an intensely scrutinized press tour.

That blend of high fashion and genuine warmth has helped shape how audiences perceive Pugh’s festival appearances over the years, making her return to Venice feel notable regardless of which film, if any, she’s specifically there to promote this time around. Whether she’s walking a red carpet for a premiere or simply making an appearance among the festival’s broader celebrity turnout, Pugh continues to draw attention wherever she shows up on the Lido.

As Venice continues rolling out premieres and photocalls over the coming days, Pugh’s presence adds another layer of star power to what’s already shaping up as one of the festival’s more fashion-forward years.

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