A Fashion Star is Born at the Cannes Film Festival

Meet our newest French fashion crush in Cannes

Quentin Tarantino’s interestingly-spelt Inglourious Basterds is all that anybody is talking about at the Cannes Film Festival today. The film screened for critics yesterday, and divided opinions almost as sharply as Lars von Trier’s Antichrist.

SEE ALL THE STARS ON THE CANNES RED CARPET

But that’s not the only similarity between the two films – Inglourious Basterds has introduced us to a French actress so stylish, she could even replace the wonderful Charlotte Gainsbourg in our affections.

Melanie Laurent stars as Shoshanna, the pivotal role of a Jewish girl who sees her family killed by Nazis and embarks on an elaborate revenge mission.

In one of the film’s greatest scenes, she gets ready for a film premiere to the strains of David Bowie, wearing an incredible red dress created by the film’s costume designer Anna Sheppard.

But, at the actual premiere last night, Melanie ignored the dullsville red carpet uniform of a sweeping gown (although Angelina Jolie did look amazing in Atelier Versace), and instead opted for a très chic cream Yves Saint Laurent le smoking suit.

Proof that the up-and-coming actress doesn't take herself too seriously either, Melanie threw some shapes reminiscent of Uma Thurman in Pulp Fiction with Mr Tarantino before the glare of the red carpet paparazzi.

Then, before the post-premiere party at the Baoli nightclub, she made a quick change into a gorgeous black mini dress and studded belt by French designer Jay Ahr. Ooh la la!

Report by Rosamund Witcher in Cannes

SEE THE A-LIST HIT THE RED CARPET IN CANNES HERE