Rebecca Hall nearly had us fooled.
The actress and director, 43, stepped out at Saturday’s Academy Museum Gala in a Thom Browne spring 2026 masterpiece that had attendees doing a double take.
The look featured a sheer tulle bodysuit overlayed with a trompe-l’oeil rendering of an nude female form, creating the illusion that Hall had simply painted her torso and stepped out for the night.
Rebecca Hall painted the town shades of gray in a “naked” bodysuit by Thom Browne at the 2025 Academy Museum Gala. Getty Images
The British star’s daring look featured an optical illusion of a bare-skinned female form rendered in suiting fabric. WireImage
Styled by Bailey Moon, Hall grounded the surrealist design with low-key glam and strappy black sandals. Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The tulle top’s trompe-l’oeil detailing gave the illusion of body paint. Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The faux body paint — created with strips of gray cotton seersucker and wool suiting fabric sewn together using an intarsia technique — was a particularly fitting choice given that Hall is also an accomplished painter.
While the anatomical bodysuit was shown on the runway with a gray pleated skirt and knee-socks, Hall’s stylist Bailey Moon swapped it for a sleek floor-length navy pencil skirt that grounded the avant-garde piece for the red carpet.
The British star accessorized the look with jewelry by David Webb and Briony Raymond, along with low-heeled strappy sandals.
She kept her hairstyle and makeup minimal, opting for a low bun with loose, face-framing waves and a soft smoky eye for the $12 million fundraiser honoring Bruce Springsteen, Penélope Cruz, Walter Salles, and Bowen Yang.
The ensemble was part of Thom Browne’s “We Come in Peace” spring 2026 collection, which debuted in Paris earlier this month. WWD via Getty Images
The “Godzilla vs. Kong” actress swapped the runway’s pleated skirt for a sleek navy pencil version. Getty Images
It was a fitting red carpet fashion statement for Hall, who’s also an accomplished painter. Getty Images for Academy Museum of Motion Pictures
The British actress held her own on a red carpet that included Kim Kardashian’s polarizing Maison Margiela face-covering ensemble, Hailey Bieber in Schiaparelli Couture and Selena Gomez in custom Armani Privé alongside husband Benny Blanco.
Hall’s bodysuit was part of Browne’s extraterrestrial-themed “We Come in Peace” collection, which debuted during Paris Fashion Week earlier this month and featured models dressed as glittering aliens.
The look nodded to Browne’s signature deconstructed tailoring while pushing boundaries — fitting for an actress known for choosing thought-provoking projects both on screen and on the red carpet.
The designer has long been known for his optical illusions, from his viral wetsuit-that-looks-like-a-suit to Janelle Monáe’s trompe-l’oeil suit cape at this year’s Met Gala.