AWARDS SEASON BEAUTY: The greatest looks from the red carpet
Remember these show-stopping beauty looks from Awards Season past?
PA PhotosMichelle Williams
Oscars, 2011
Everyone tends to up the ante during Awards Season but Michelle Williams’ peroxide blonde pixie cut with sultry blue-toned smoky eyes was a big winner for our Beauty Desk in 2011. And that most gorgeous Chanel dress that she wore had nothing to do with it.
Rex FeaturesNicole Kidman
Oscars, 2000
Another award season stalwart is Nicole Kidman, who unfailingly manages to reinvent her look every single year. Using her natural russet locks to devastasting effect here, Nic complemented her off-the-shoulder molten gold gown with a soft, Grecian up-do.
Rex FeaturesAngelina Jolie
Oscars, 2009
There was something about Angie’s 2009 Oscar appearance that absolutely oozed Hollywood stardom. The simple half-up, half-down hairstyle has since been copied a hundred times on the red carpet and keeping the make-up look simple with a bold slick of eyeliner across the top lid served to make the whole thing incredibly understated but timelessly gorgeous.
PA PhotosGwyneth Paltrow
Oscars, 1999
Gwynnie played it smart when she was up for the big award at the 1999 Academy Awards by teaming her sugary pink Ralph Lauren princess dress with very simple hair and make-up: A side-parted ballet bun pinned at the nape of the neck and soft make-up was the order of the day.
PA PhotosCharlize Theron
Oscars, 2004
In the year she was up for the Best Actress gong, Charlize Theron teamed her figure-skimming nude Dior dress with 20s-inspired hair and a glistening metallic eye make-up look that, wait for it, she did herself. And for that alone, this has become one of our favourite ever Oscar looks.
Rex FeaturesKate Winslet
Oscars, 2008
Scooping the gong for The Reader required more than a touch of old Hollywood glamour and Kate Winslet's faux bob had it in droves.
PA PhotosJulia Roberts
Oscars, 2001
And who can forget Julia Roberts' high-rise ponytail-come-chignon the year she scooped the Best Actress award? Sleek, chic and glamorous, it was the perfect 'do for her monochrome vintage Valentino gown.
GettyElizabeth Taylor
Oscars, 1957
When you’re up for the Best Actress gong, what better way to meet your fellow nominees than with the ultimate princess hair up-do complete with tiara?
GettyAudrey Hepburn
Oscars, 1975
Keeping her signature hairstyle for the 1975 Academy Awards, Audrey Hepburn’s chic high-rise chignon and full-fat fringe were every-inch the actress’ trademark beauty look and still looked completely excellent some 15 years later, too.
PA PhotosGrace Kelly
Oscars, 1954
Oscar winner Grace Kelly was an early purveyor of the quiff and worked this soft waved version to collect her Best Actress gong for The Country Girl.
Rex FeaturesBarbra Streisand
Oscars, 1969
When everyone’s wearing pretty princess up-dos and you're Barbra Streisand what do you do? Why, you go for something quintessentially 60s like this gloriously shiny and oh-so-chic bouffant bob – with bangs.
GettyMeryl Streep
Oscars, 1980
When collecting her Best Supporting Actress award for Kramer vs. Kramer, Meryl proved that old Hollywood classic looks are timeless. Channelling Veronica Lake with those gorgeous side-swept blonde curls, the only dead giveaway that this is 1980 is the Meryl’s fabulously of-its-era frock.
GettyGoldie Hawn
Oscars, 1971
Proving from where daughter Kate Hudson got her good looks – and locks – Goldie Hawn’s cutesy up-do with superior wavy, centre-parted fringe and a rose sitting atop her head was, in short, completely beautiful.
GettyDrew Barrymore
Oscars, 1989
Drew Barrymore has long-been our beauty icon but her turn at the 1989 Oscars was one of her greatest. Keeping the look young and fresh with muted highlights, we love this swept-back, easy-to-copy ‘do that’s got plenty of volume to boot.
GettySandra Bullock
Oscars, 2011
Naturally thick and glossy hair like Sandra Bullock’s takes little teasing to make it red carpet ready but her 2011 soft and tousled up-do is still a favourite.
GettyAmy Adams
Oscars, 2008
Channeling a bit of Veronica Lake and even Meryl Streep, Amy’s gorgeous wavy locks complete with a green dress to really set off her natural colour, still takes some beating.
PA PhotosRooney Mara
Golden Globes, 2012
New beauty hero on the block Rooney Mara scored a major hair hit with her cool side-swept slick style – and those were the best smoky eye flicks we’d seen in a long time.
PA PhotosJulianne Moore
Golden Globes, 2012
Julianne Moore never gets it wrong and this Golden Globes look is no exception. From her fiery side-swept curls to her softly glowing complexion, this look is pure glamour-goddess.
Rex FeaturesThandie Newton
Golden Globes, 2013
There’s something about Thandie’s body-beautiful ‘do that screams retro sass. Super-shiny, edgy and with just a hint of Bardot, we think Thandie’s look is worthy of its own gong – and with that slick of jet-black liner and pop of coral pout, we’re sure you'll agree.
PA PhotosReese Witherspoon
Oscars, 2011
Reese Witherspoon's high-rise 70s inspired ponytail is a favourite of Kate Beckinsale's on the red carpet, too. Making the hair appear voluminous, this adds instant oomph to a simpler dress.
Rex FeaturesJennifer Lopez
Oscars, 2002
Although J.Lo's 60s-inspired curly 'do divided critics at the time, we reckon this still deserves a spot here for being so memorable.
Rex FeaturesKeira Knightley
Oscars, 2006
Although we much prefer Keira's natural brunette hair colour, we had to give her top marks for pulling off a blonde bombshell 'do with such aplomb at the 2006 Academy Awards.
PA PhotosNatalie Portman
Oscars, 2009
There was a lot that we loved about Natalie's hair and beauty look at the 2009 Oscars but an ethereal swept-back 'do and elongated brows were certainly high on the list.
Getty ImagesNatalie Portman
Oscars, 2009
...But the absolute crowning glory of the style was the use of such a pretty hair accessory with an ornate plaited bun. Picture-perfect.
GettyKate Hudson
Oscars, 2001
While Kate Hudson’s corkscrew-curled up-do divided, well, pretty much everyone who cared to voice an opinion, ever; we actually kind of like how it’s gone down in award season history. Sure, it’s not a look for everyone but teamed with her fussy Stella McCartney gown, looking back, there’s actually something really cute about the whole look.
