Rose Byrne, 46, Pushes Boundaries in a Strikingly Minimalist Black Dress at the 2026 BAFTA Nominees’ Bash
Rose Byrne proved that a classic color palette doesn’t have to be quiet as she arrived at the 2026 EE BAFTA Film Awards Nominees’ Party. The Australian actress turned the London event into her own personal runway, opting for a sleek black silk midi dress that featured a plunging neckline and delicate spaghetti straps.
The dress, characterized by its minimalist architecture, skimmed her figure with effortless precision, highlighting the results of her famously active lifestyle. She allowed the sharp tailoring of the garment to do the heavy lifting, pairing the look with classic black pumps and a softly waved bob that framed her face with a timeless elegance.
Rose Byrne at the Nominees' Party for the EE BAFTA Film Awards 2026. 📷 pic.twitter.com/5MT846o4Pv
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The dress is custom Chanel, the styling is flawless, and the look is just refined and quietly confident, noted one fashion critic in attendance at the National Portrait Gallery. Byrne’s appearance was part of a whirlwind weekend of festivities, as she also made a stop at the Charles Finch & Chanel pre-BAFTA Party at 5 Hertford Street, maintaining her status as one of the weekend’s best-dressed stars.
The 46-year-old’s high-fashion moment comes during what many are calling the most significant year of her professional life. She arrived at the event with her long-term partner, actor Bobby Cannavale, who was back by her side after famously missing her Golden Globes win earlier this year to attend a reptile expo with their sons.
Rose is currently the talk of the 2026 awards season, having already secured a Golden Globe for her searing performance in the psychological comedy-drama If I Had Legs I’d Kick You. In the film, which she has described as the creative highlight of her career, she plays Linda, a mother navigating a deep existential crisis and a family in turmoil.
The role has earned her a BAFTA nomination for Best Actress in a Leading Role, where she faces stiff competition from the likes of Kate Hudson. Critics have praised her ability to balance “pitch-black humor with genuine heartbreak,” noting that her work in the Mary Bronstein-directed film is a career-best transformation.
Beyond her current awards run, Rose has a packed slate for the remainder of 2026. She starred in the drama Tow, where she plays a homeless woman fighting an unethical towing company, and she will lead the new Peacock thriller series The Good Daughter opposite Meghann Fahy.
Fans of her comedic work can also look forward to the third season of the Apple TV+ hit Platonic, which was recently renewed. She continues to film alongside her real-life friend Seth Rogen, a partnership she has described as pure joy and creative freedom during recent press junkets.
Tell us what you think about Rose’s sophisticated black dress and if she’s your pick for Best Actress in the comments!