Halle Berry cut an elegant figure as she stepped out in a black and white striped gown at Cannes Film Festival’s opening ceremony on Tuesday evening.

It came after the Catwoman star, 56, revealed she was forced to make a last-minute change to the dress she’d planned to wear due to the event’s strict new rules on risqué gowns.

The actress is no stranger to stunning with her bold looks, and even went underwear-free in her raunchy dress at the Met Gala last week.

But as this year’s festival kicked off, Halle confessed she’s had to reconsider the outfit she’d planned, as its long train breached the festival’s new rules.

Over the weekend, Cannes organisers released strict new guidelines in an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for ‘naked dresses’ – namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal – on the red carpet.

Speaking at the festival’s first press conference, Halle said: ‘I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big.

Halle Berry cut an elegant figure as she stepped out in a black and white striped gown at Cannes Film Festival’s opening ceremony on Tuesday evening

The actress is no stranger to stunning with her bold looks, and even went underwear-free in her raunchy dress at the Met Gala last week

‘Of course, I’m going to follow the rules, so I had to make a pivot. But the nudity part, I do think, is probably also a good move.’

Halle was glowing as she graced the glitzy event as a member of the jury in her replacement stripy number.

The sleeveless tunic maxi dress featured a high neckline and short cape at the back, with underlayers of pink mesh.

The actress wore her choppy brunette locks in loose curls and added inches to her height with black platform heels.

She opted for a glowing palette of makeup and appeared to be in high spirits as she arrived at the event with the other members of the jury.

Last week, Halle left Met Gala 2025 fans shocked as she went underwear-free on the red carpet in her most risque look ever.

The Oscar-winning actress modeled a plunging, beaded black and sheer striped LaQuan Smith gown – but risked a major wardrobe malfunction every time she moved due to her lack of lingerie.

Parts of her midriff and crotch were exposed in the daring ensemble, which she teamed with a cropped black blazer with shoulder pads.

It came after the Catwoman star, 56, revealed she was forced to make a last-minute change to the dress she’d planned to wear due to the event’s strict new rules on risqué gowns

But as this year’s festival kicked off, Halle confessed she’s had to reconsider the outfit she’d planned, as its long train breached the festival’s new rules

Speaking at the festival’s first press conference, Halle said: ‘I had an amazing dress by Gupta to wear tonight, and I cannot wear it because the train is too big

Halle was glowing as she graced the glitzy event as a member of the jury in her replacement stripy number

The sleeveless tunic maxi dress featured a high neckline and short cape at the back, with underlayers of pink mesh 

Read More Halle Berry, 58, draws strong reaction for wearing very racy sheer dress at Met Gala

Now, sticking to the nudity crackdown at Cannes, Halle opted for a much more modest display. 

Over recent years the star-studded extravaganza has arguably won more attention for the outfits worn by its celebrity guests than the roster of feature films being screened on the Croisette. 

But new nudity rules, devised for ‘the sake of decency,’ have been implemented at this year’s festival.  

According to organisers, the austere move is an attempt to stifle the celebrity trend for ‘naked dresses’ – namely provocative outfits that reveal considerably more than they conceal – on the red carpet.

‘For decency reasons, nudity is prohibited on the red carpet, as well as any other area of the festival,’ states a Cannes festival document.

‘The festival welcoming teams will be obligated to prohibit red carpet access to anyone not respecting these rules.’ 

The surprise new policy features in a recent festival-goers charter – released with a series of outlines regarding expected public behaviour. 

Guests are expected to converge on the Grand Auditorium Louis Lumière for some of the highest profile film screenings across a packed two-week schedule in Cannes. 

It’s understood that the iconic venue now adopts a more conservative dress code, with suits, dinner jackets and floor-length evening gowns generally favoured over headline grabbing ensembles. 

Last week, Halle left Met Gala 2025 fans shocked as she went underwear-free on the red carpet in her most risque look ever 

The Oscar-winning actress modeled a plunging, beaded black and sheer striped LaQuan Smith gown – but risked a major wardrobe malfunction every time she moved due to her lack of lingerie 

Parts of her midriff and crotch were exposed in the daring ensemble, which she teamed with a cropped black blazer with shoulder pads

Classic little black dresses, cocktail dresses, pant-suits, dressy tops and elegant sandals, ‘with or without a heel’, will also be permitted.  

While the decision to implement a more stringent policy will be a first, it is not known if French TV broadcasters, wary of airing nudity, played a role in its enforcement. 

Major red carpet events, including the Cannes Film Festival, are aired in France by France Télévisions

Recently attracting more models and influencers than actors and filmmakers, the annual ceremony has seen an increase in risque red carpet fashion statements. 

In 2021, American supermodel Bella Hadid bared her cleavage in a  plunging black gown while attending a screening of Tre Piani (Three Floors).

She pulled a similar stunt three years later, with guests at the 2024 gala left speechless after she attended the premiere of Donald Trump biopic The Apprentice completely braless beneath a sheer brown evening dress.