Jessie Buckley and Penelope Cruz Dazzle at The Bride! UK Premiere
The UK premiere of the highly anticipated film The Bride! transformed London's Leicester Square into a glittering spectacle on Thursday evening. Irish actress Jessie Buckley, fresh from her BAFTA win, delighted fans by signing autographs before joining the exclusive afterparty at Bardo St James's.
Star-Studded Arrivals
Jessie Buckley, 36, made a dramatic entrance in a daring sheer gown that channeled her on-screen character, flashing glimpses of her underwear as she posed playfully on the white carpet. Her glamorous co-star Penelope Cruz, 51, stunned attendees in a black sequinned gown complemented by a striking red clutch bag, showcasing her ageless beauty.
The star-studded event attracted numerous celebrities, including Dancing With The Stars host Julianne Hough, who arrived in an elegant cream pleated dress with dramatic black opera gloves. Director Maggie Gyllenhaal, 48, made a chic appearance in a perilously plunging black cut-out gown, supported by her husband Peter Sarsgaard and their daughter Ramona.
Family Affair and Rare Appearances
Maggie Gyllenhaal's actor brother Jake Gyllenhaal made a rare public appearance with his long-time girlfriend, French model Jeanne Cadieu, who turned heads in an optical illusion dress. The evening became a true family celebration as Hollywood's elite gathered to support the film's release.
Christian Bale's Transformation Challenges
Christian Bale, who portrays Frankenstein's monster in the film, attended with his wife of 25 years, Sibi Blažić. The British actor revealed the extraordinary challenges of his latest transformation, which required six hours of daily makeup application.
"Sitting still for that long nearly turned me insane," Bale confessed to Entertainment Weekly. "I would have to scream like crazy every day on set just to release the despair of all that restraint."
The actor enlisted his hair and makeup team to participate in daily primal screaming sessions, which eventually grew to include about thirty crew members. "It became a great bonding experience," Bale noted, highlighting the unconventional methods he employed to cope with the demanding role.
From BAFTA Success to Gothic Horror
Jessie Buckley's appearance came just days after she made history as the first Irish actress to win the BAFTA for Best Actress for her role in Hamnet. Fighting back tears during her acceptance speech, she dedicated the award to her six-month-old daughter, whom she welcomed last year with film producer husband Freddie Sorensen.
"It's the best role of my life being your mom," Buckley emotionally declared at the BAFTA ceremony. "I promise to continue to be disobedient so you can belong to a world where all your mad, complex wildness as a young woman is celebrated."
The actress reflected that her role as Agnes in Hamnet has made her "braver in life," praising director Chloé Zhao for creating an environment that encouraged primal, authentic performances.
The Bride! Plot and Cast
The Bride! transports audiences to 1930s Chicago, where Frankenstein's monster requests that Dr. Euphronious create a companion for him. Their experiment brings a murdered woman back to life as "the Bride," sparking both romance and police investigation. The film features Peter Sarsgaard as detective Jake Wiles alongside the principal cast.
Jessie Buckley's transition from the historical drama of Hamnet to the gothic horror of The Bride! demonstrates her remarkable range as an actress. She portrays a woman resurrected as a spooky companion for Frankenstein's monster, marking a significant departure from her acclaimed Shakespearean role.
Additional Celebrity Appearances
The premiere attracted diverse talents from across the entertainment industry. Model Mia Regan arrived in an edgy all-leather ensemble, while Munroe Bergdorf showcased her figure in a revealing black feathered dress. Former Olympic snowboarder Aimee Fuller opted for a fun all-black look, and Eurovision star Bambie Thug made a statement in distressed fabric attire.
All cast members celebrated enthusiastically ahead of the film's theatrical release on March 6, creating memorable moments both on the red carpet and at the exclusive afterparty where the festivities continued late into the night.
