Can we all just take a collective breath and talk about what happened on the Croisette on Wednesday? Because if you thought the 2026 Cannes Film Festival was going to be all about sensible slicked-back buns, Gillian Anderson smashed it out of the park with a set of curls so iconic they deserve their own IMDb credit.
Usually, the Cannes photocall vibe is… dare I say it, predictable. Then Gillian showed up.
Dressed in a dreamy, beige floral Miu Miu midi-dress, she debuted a bouncy, 80s-inspired curly blowout that had everybody talking.
© WireImageThe Man Behind the Mane: Paul Jones
Let’s give credit where it’s due. The architect of this bouffant masterpiece is celebrity hairstylist Paul Jones. Now, we’re used to seeing Gillian with super chic hair, but Paul clearly decided it was time to let her inner rock star out to play.
The look is a total departure from her signature straight-down-the-middle aesthetic. It’s got volume, it’s got texture, and it's giving Rivals. Ultimately, it’s a masterclass in how to do big hair without it looking like you're off to a fancy dress party.
I reached out to fellow celebrity hair stylist Carl Bembridge, who gave it his seal of approval: "I love this look because it shows off a gorgeous texture and feels like a modern nod to that iconic 80s volume. She is proving that hair absolutely over 50 can still feel expressive, glamorous and fun."
© WireImageI wanted tips on how to recreate the look, and Carl came through: "I’d prep the hair with Color Wow Raise The Root, £15.48 / $26, and Xtra Large, £25 / $28 throughout for that maximum volumised finish. Then use a small barrel tong, alternating the direction of the curls so it feels softer and more effortless.
"Once cooled, brush out the curls to create that airy finish rather than tight ringlets for a more natural result. Color Wow Style On Steroids, £28 / $32, is great for adding texture and movement whilst keeping the hair touchable and modern rather than overly done."
Gillian - who is Marks & Spencer's first ever Chief Compliment Officer (CCO)- is promoting Teenage Sex And Death At Camp Miasma, which is already the talk of the festival. It follows a queer director (Hannah Einbinder) trying to make a sequel to a zombie slasher flick, only to get dangerously obsessed with the original star (Gillian Anderson). Honestly? Based on this hair alone, I’d follow Gillian Anderson into a surreal zombie-filled nightmare, too.
© FilmMagicThe "Gillian-aissance" Continues
Gillian has been busy in her mid-fifties. From her TV and movie career to her gig with M&S, not to mention being a number one Sunday Times bestseller for Want: Sexual Fantasies By Anonymous and a follow-up, she is consistently pushing boundaries.
Gillian is proof that the older you get, the less you should care about 'the rules.' If you want to wear 80s hair with a designer floral dress at the most prestigious film festival in the world, you do it.
As a journalist, I spend a lot of time looking at trends that feel like they were made for 20-somethings. But this? This is for everyone. It acts as the perfect reminder that beauty should be playful. It shouldn't be about hiding your age or playing it safe so you don't make a mistake.
So, if you were looking for a sign to finally try that perm, or to buy those hot rollers you’ve been eyeing, this is it. Gillian is out here living her best, curliest life at 56, proving that boring hair is a choice we simply don't have to make anymore.
