How did Elle Fanning accessorise her “museum art piece” vintage Balmain gown at the 2024 Golden Globes, you ask? It began with layers of Cartier diamonds. Specifically, the Reflection de Cartier necklace, composed of 392 diamonds, and Pluie de Cartier earrings, (to name a few).
But underneath the bodice of her ivory silk, bow-adorned bodice from the French Maison’s archives, the actress was sporting an unconventional piece of body art. As the 25-year-old shared behind-the-scenes images during her pre-event glam, the star snuck in a floral, fine-line tattoo on the small of her back.
Fanning attended her first Golden Globes after being nominated for ‘Best Actress’ in a comedy TV show for her role as the former Empress of Russia, Catherine the Great. Yet, it’s this new revelation—and a new piece of body art—that’s piqued our interest. (Our sincerest apologies to the glamorous Balmain ball gown for being overshone by an unexpected ink).
Fanning accompanied the surprising post with the following caption: “Capturing the moments. All hands on deck. And kept a little River with me (temporary tramp stamp) from Appropriate iykyk.”
While The Great lead walked the red carpet with a hidden self-proclaimed “tramp stamp”, netizens can breathe a sigh of relief knowing Fanning’s promise to never get a tattoo hasn’t been broken. (For the uninitiated, Fanning and her sister, Dakota, signed a contract in childhood at the bequest of their mother to never get inked. A vow they’ve both upheld to this day.)
It’s plausible that temporary ink could be toeing the line, but it appears Fanning has made an exception to this rule if the tattoo is for work purposes. As she hinted at in her caption, the impermanent ink is remnants from her Broadway character “River”, which she is currently performing in a new production of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ award-winning play, Appropriate.
In the two-act performance, Fanning portrays a new-age hippie who accompanies her much older fiance to sort through his late father’s plantation estate in Arkansas. (This might ring a bell to Australian readers who saw the Sydney production in 2021 starring Sam Worthington and Puberty Blues’ Brenna Harding).
While this hidden design is certainly more inconspicuous than the tattoos she sports for the play (see below), it’s a theatrical display worthy of the occasion. If only she wore a low-back gown!
