Eva Longoria Is My Queen of Cannes

The annual Cannes Film Festival is one of the glitziest and most glamorous events in the world. Even so, the red carpet is certainly not for everyone: It has a famously strict dress code, and adheres to a more traditional and classically-pretty aesthetic. Though there have been a few dress code rejectors over the years, many A-listers who hit the festival cater to the vibe—choosing customary princess gowns and classic tuxedos that are more about looking formal than breaking boundaries. One star in particular has aced the assignment for years now: Eva Longoria, my queen of Cannes.

Since Longoria first attended Cannes back in 2005, the actor (and Desperate Housewives icon) has used the red carpet to serve up glamour. Her very first Cannes red carpet dress—a slinky gold maxi number laced up the back—cost only $40, but she made the off-the-rack piece look like a million bucks. Since then, the star has continued to slip into an array of formal ball gowns, all complete with tons of crystals, sequins, feathers, and trains galore.

In a $40 dress in 2005

Photo: Getty Images

This year, Longoria is back at Cannes yet again—and though the 2025 dress code has banned voluminous designs and extra-long trains (two Longoria signatures), she is still serving up her usual fanciful looks.

At the Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning premiere yesterday, Longoria hit the Cannes steps in a slinky blue sequined Elie Saab frock dress a halter neckline. Earlier in the week, at the official opening ceremony, the star donned a black and gold sequin gown by Tamara Ralph—the couture designer who is fast becoming a celebrity favorite, thanks to her whimsical maximalism.

While Longoria’s over-the-top Cannes wardrobe may not be for everyone (the festival fashion is less about being innovative and more about delivering a classic sense of finery) I'm here for it. Call me crazy, but stars can go to the Met Gala or the Venice Film Festival to propose avant-garde fashion ideas. Cannes, as Longoria knows, is about glitz, glitter, and glam—and she does it well.

Below, see more of Longoria’s best Cannes moments over the years.