Cynthia Erivo brought a burst of colour to the BFI London Film Festival on Tuesday night, 13 October, arriving for the premiere of Prima Facie in a canary yellow gown by Prada. The three-time Oscar nominee leads the film as a young trial lawyer working in London’s courts. She chose a bold colour for a serious film, and the result drew immediate attention from photographers.
The dress was cut from silk satin on the bias, so it skimmed the body rather than holding a rigid shape. Its neckline was decorated with black geometric grosgrain bows, which added a graphic edge to an otherwise soft silhouette. Yellow is a hard colour to carry on a red carpet, but the sharp contrast of the black trim kept the look structured, and the gown photographed strongly on the carpet. The look was finished with minimal accessories so the colour stayed the focus.
Erivo was joined by several members of the cast, including Toheeb Jimoh, Elizabeth Dulau, Harry Treadaway, Khalid Abdalla and Elliot Levey. Daniel Ings, Noma Dumezweni and Simon Russell Beale also star. In the film, Erivo plays a rising barrister who defends people accused of crimes, including men charged with sexual assault, until a life-changing event makes her question the justice system she built her identity around. The cast gathered for photographs before heading inside for the screening.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Erivo said she wanted the part as soon as she read it. “I just knew immediately that I wanted to do this,” she said, adding that the story now feels more important than she first realised. She also praised the work of intimacy coordinators, saying “not enough credit is given” to them, and explained that part of their job is making sure every actor leaves difficult scenes safely.
She described Ings as kind from their first meeting. He wanted to talk early on about how the pair could look out for each other during the hardest scenes, which she said made a real difference on set. Prima Facie opens in UK cinemas in November, while a US release date has not yet been announced. Until then, the yellow Prada gown gives the film a memorable first outing in front of the cameras. The London date gave home audiences an early chance to see the film before it reaches cinemas.
