At the star-studded Critics Choice Awards ceremony on Sunday night, actress Kaley Cuoco made a fashion statement that was both a style moment and a heartfelt tribute. The 40-year-old star turned heads on the red carpet by recreating a legendary look originally worn by her longtime idol, Jennifer Aniston, at the 2002 Golden Globes.
A Modern Take on an Iconic Ensemble
Cuoco's glamorous outfit was a contemporary reimagining of Aniston's famous plunging black suit. She wore an oversized black satin blazer left open over a simple black bra, paired with elegant wide-leg satin trousers from the label Simkhai. The look was finished with bold Pomellato jewellery and a dramatic beehive hairstyle that closely mirrored Aniston's original 'do.
After the event, the Flight Attendant star took to Instagram to share side-by-side photos, explaining the sentimental inspiration. "I wanted to recreate and reimagine a favourite look I've always loved, worn by the iconic @jenniferaniston at the '02 Golden Globes," Cuoco wrote. She added, "From the hair and makeup, to the suit and the jewels, we put our spin on it. But it represented a look I always loved, worn by a woman who will always be iconic."
More Than Just a Fashion Moment
Cuoco attended the awards in support of her fiancé, actor Tom Pelphrey, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor. The couple, who share two-year-old daughter Matilda, appeared relaxed and affectionate, with Cuoco posting loved-up snaps from the red carpet.
However, the homage carried a deeper personal significance for Cuoco, whose admiration for Aniston stretches back decades. Long before her own fame, a young Cuoco crossed paths with Aniston, now 56, while working as a child actress on the 1997 film Picture Perfect. Reflecting on the experience in a 2020 Instagram post, Cuoco revealed she was credited simply as 'little girl' and her one line was cut.
"All I remember is spending the entire day convincing myself to tell Jen how much I loved her," Cuoco wrote. "Friends was my life." She fondly recalled that Aniston "was a gem to me then and a gem to me now," calling it a "full-circle moment."
A Lifelong Fan
Cuoco's fandom is well-documented. During a 2016 appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, she admitted to being a "crazy obsessed" fan. She once recounted meeting the Friends star at an NBC event, where Aniston recognised her. "She turned around and said, 'Kaley!' It was like the skies opened up," Cuoco recalled, even noting that "She smelled like a garden."
This latest red carpet tribute at the Critics Choice Awards 2026 beautifully encapsulates a journey from starstruck young actress to established star, honouring the woman who inspired her along the way.
