Friday night in Venice was meant to be all about Andrew Garfield and the premiere of his new film After the Hunt, but it was his girlfriend, Oscar-nominated actress Monica Barbaro, who nearly stole the show thanks to a sudden gust of wind.
Barbaro, 35, arrived on the red carpet in a black Christian Dior gown, looking calm and collected. Her hair moved slightly in the breeze at first, but then came a stronger blast that sent the top layer of her pleated dress puffing up like a balloon. It lasted barely a second, but it was enough to give photographers their shot of the night.
Channeling her inner Marilyn Monroe, Barbaro reacted quickly, pressing the billowing fabric back into place before flashing a small laugh and brushing her hair aside. Ever the professional, she carried on with her solo poses for photographers as though nothing had happened. Luckily, even if her reflexes had been a little slower, the dress was designed with a black slip underneath, so there was never any danger of a full reveal.
Her Dior gown, floor-length with a high neck and a striking bow detail at the waist, was the statement piece of her look. She kept everything else simple: subtle makeup, sparkling earrings, and a single ring. A large ribbon draped across her back gave the outfit an extra flourish, cementing her as one of the evening’s standout looks despite the minor mishap.
Barbaro walked the carpet alone, letting Garfield, 42, enjoy the spotlight for his starring role in the film directed by Luca Guadagnino. But the couple were seen arriving together in Venice earlier that day, holding hands as they made their way through the city.
Though Barbaro isn’t part of After the Hunt, she and Garfield will soon be working together on Guadagnino’s next project, Artificial. Barbaro has previously called him “one of my favourite directors,” making the collaboration an exciting one to watch.
The pair have been linked since February, after fans spotted them at a London play. While neither has confirmed the romance publicly, their appearances have been adding up.
They were photographed at Wimbledon in July sharing a kiss, and now Venice marks another joint outing. Garfield himself has remained private, once telling Esquire he “won’t ever, speak about or confirm or deny anything about my personal life with anyone, ever.”
Barbaro, meanwhile, continues to ride the wave of her rising profile. Her turn as Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown earned her critical acclaim and an Oscar nomination, and she’s been making fashion headlines since. Earlier this year she made her Met Gala debut in a look that still has fans talking, per Harper’s Bazaar. Her red carpet moment in Venice, wind included, was just the latest example of her charm and poise under pressure.
It may have been a near wardrobe fail, but Barbaro’s effortless recovery and dazzling Dior gown made sure all anyone will remember is how gracefully she handled it.
