John Travolta debuts a dramatic new look at the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival

Hollywood icon John Travolta made a memorable appearance at the 79th annual Cannes Film Festival, arriving on the red carpet with a striking new aesthetic that set tongues wagging amongst fans and onlookers alike.

The 72-year-old Grease legend was accompanied by his daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, as the pair posed together for photographers at the prestigious event.

A bold new style statement

Looking notably slimmer than in recent years, Travolta sported a cream beret paired with gold-rimmed round glasses and a neatly groomed beard. He completed the ensemble with a black three-piece suit, white shirt and tie, a matching pocket square, and black patent leather loafers.

The Pulp Fiction star entertained the assembled crowds with high-energy poses — including peace signs and salutes — as his sophisticated look drew considerable attention at the Karma screening.

Fans divided over the transformation

Reactions from fans were mixed. Some embraced the new direction, with one commenting: "Love the beret! Have fun! Much Love."

Others expressed bemusement, with one writing: "'WHO is that and what have they done with John Travolta?!" A third remarked that he looked as though he were "standing next to his Madame Tussaud's wax statue," whilst a fourth offered more straightforward praise: "John you look so young!"

Ahead of his arrival, Travolta had shared a video on social media of himself and Ella disembarking his private jet in France, writing alongside it: "Big day, big night in Cannes. Stay tuned!"

Ella Bleu shines on the red carpet

Ella Bleu, 26 — whose mother is the late Kelly Preston — proved equally camera-ready on the night. She wore a floor-length black velvet dress with black heels, her hair styled into a 1960s-inspired bouffant, and accessorised with diamond jewellery and a natural make-up look. A natural in front of the lens, she drew considerable admiration from those in attendance.

Ella has followed in the footsteps of her parents, with film credits including Old Dogs, Eye For An Eye, Get Lost, and Extra. She has also established herself in both the modelling and music industries.

A historic Palme d'Or and an emotional speech

The evening carried particular personal significance for Travolta, who received an honorary lifetime achievement Palme d'Or at the festival — an accolade that visibly moved him.

"This is beyond the Oscar," he told the assembled crowd. "Surprise complétement! I can't believe this. This is the last thing I expected. I had no expectation that my film would be accepted. And when Thierry said it was not only accepted but it was making history because it would be the first film ever accepted that early, I cried like a baby because I just couldn't believe it."

The film: An aviation story close to his heart

The Saturday Night Fever star attended Cannes to present his aviation-inspired film, which he has also directed and based on his own 1997 children's novel. Travolta narrates the project, which features Ella Bleu alongside Clark Shotwell, Kelly Eviston-Quinnett, and Olga Hoffmann.

A family marked by loss

Behind the glamour of the red carpet lies a family acquainted with profound grief. When Ella was just nine years old, her elder brother Jett passed away following a seizure. A decade later, in 2020, she suffered a further devastating loss when her mother, Kelly Preston, died of breast cancer.