The Crown star Elizabeth Debicki wowed on the red carpet of a recent exhibition gala dinner in London, wearing a very risqué gown, far from her on-screen portrayal of the late Princess Diana in the series chronicling the story of the modern British monarchy.
Appearing alongside the likes of Daisy Edgar-Jones, the 35-year-old Australian actress posed for pictures at the Schiaparelli: Fashion Becomes Art show dinner at the V&A in South Kensington.
She wore a brown and beige 'naked' illusion dress for the star-studded event, featuring a high roll-neck and no sleeves. The print on her dress carved out her figure, and she elevated her height in a pair of pointed-toe kitten slingback heels.
Emulating the woman who catapulted her to fame, Elizabeth lived up to her reputation as a Princess Diana lookalike with her choice of bold gold statement earrings that were very 1980s and her hairstyle: scraping her blonde tresses into a volumised up-do.
However, her hair and jewellery were the only details reminiscent of her time playing Prince William and Harry's mother.
Analysing her daring, bold new look, HELLO! asked a psychologist to decode the underlying message attached to the gown and what it might reveal about her next role as she sheds her "Shy Di" image.
© Dave Benett/Getty Images for V&AElizabeth's reintroduction after her spell in Buckingham Palace
While she has since starred in shows such as The Night Manager, the actress's name is still synonymous with the Netflix show The Crown. Her remarkable likeness to the "People's Princess" has left a mark on her career as she moves forward into new roles.
Her new red carpet look could be an indication of Elizabeth's urge to reintroduce herself as an actress independent of her Diana role, according to Joanna Konstantopoulou, a London-based HCPC-registered practitioner psychologist with over 17 years of professional clinical experience.
She told Best Quality Designer Handbag : "A more revealing or unexpected outfit can sometimes reflect a shift in how an actor is stepping back into public view. After being closely associated with a role like Princess Diana, it would be quite natural to create some distance from that image and allow a different presence to come through."
© Daniel Escale/NetflixCould big changes be coming?
Doing the rounds at global fashion weeks, Elizabeth is a Dior ambassador and worked on the film Wicker, which was released in January. Her next move is unknown, but the expert thinks a shift could be right around the corner.
She revealed: "Clothing can influence how someone is held in the public eye quite quickly. A look like this can suggest a move away from something more contained towards a broader, less defined image, or simply a desire not to remain identified with one particular role.
© DANIEL LEAL"For actors working at that level, these shifts are rarely incidental. They tend to happen at points where something is changing, either in how they are seen or in the direction they are moving in," Joanna continued.
She concluded: "At the same time, it’s important not to read these choices too literally. What they often signal is a change in positioning, rather than a fixed intention."
