She holds the distinction of being the second-youngest person to scoop an Academy Award when she received the coveted Best Supporting Actress trophy at the tender age of 11.
And much buzz surrounded Anna Paquin’s efforts in her latest film The Irishman, when she stepped out fot its UK premiere during the 63rd BFI London Film Festival on Sunday.
The 37-year-old screen star exuded elegance as she took to the Odeon Luxe Leicester Square’s red carpet in a black sleeveless gown, posing alongside a host of celebrities, including her co-star Robert De Niro.
Film: Anna Paquin and Robert De Niro attended the premiere of The Irishman at the 63rd BFI London Film Festival on Sunday
The Canadian-born, New Zealand-raised actress teamed her floor-length gown with a pair of black heels while her accessories including a glittering back necklace.
Wearing her golden locks in a wavy tousled bun with tendrils, the screen star highlighted her natural beauty with a soft palette of makeup that included deep pink lipstick.
She attended the event with her husband and former True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, who complemented his wife’s glamorous ensemble with a classic black suit.
Sparkle: The Oscar-winning actress accessorised with a back necklace, while she wore her golden locks in a wavy tousled bun
Stand by your woman: She attended the event with her husband and former True Blood co-star Stephen Moyer, who complemented his wife’s glamorous ensemble with a classic black suit
During the premiere, mother-of-two Anna spoke with MailOnline about having so few lines in The Irishman while portraying her role of Peggy Sheeran.
‘I think a lot can be said without words,’ she said. ‘I think sometimes a look is worth a thousand words and the internalised judgement that she has passed on her father is not something that she would be able to verbalise, not at that stage of her life.
‘She’d need 20 years of therapy to be able to explain to him why he was a problematic parent. But it was really interesting, it was a bit of a challenge but one that was incredibly exciting for me.’
Also speaking to MailOnline, Robert De Niro slammed US President Donald Trump as he spoke about how the film coming out now as a gangster movie and how it’s relevant to the political landscape.
Arriving in style: De Niro and director Martin Scorsese looked dapper as they posed in their suits on the expansive red carpet
Picture this: As the evening progressed, the stars posed on the red carpet with Al Pacino, who also stars in the upcoming film
Casual: Pacino added casual touches to his ensemble, arriving at the event in a pair of running shoes and sporting sunglasses
Ready for the closeup: The famous Hollywood trio were all smiles as they posed for photographers gathered on the red carpet
Saying it was ‘relevant in a way’, he told MailOnline: ‘We’ve been working on the movie for a long time, a bit more than 12 years, so that we’re happy to get it finally finished, done and out there. How it relates to things politically?
‘Well we have a gangster in the White House, but he’s not even a good gangster, he’s not smart, he’s stupid, he doesn’t keep his word.
‘There’s an expression, honour amongst thieves as in any profession that has honour and they shake your hand and say it’s done no matter what.
‘And there are those in Wall Street who don’t do that, and he happens to be one of the guys who don’t honour anything so he doesn’t fit in any category except being a malignant narcissist who has no idea what he’s doing.’
Slammed: Speaking to MailOnline at the premiere, Robert De Niro slammed US President Donald Trump as he spoke about how the film coming out now as a gangster movie and how it’s relevant to the political landscape
Stylish: The film-maker attended the event with his wife of 20 years, Helen Morris, who looked stylish in a velvet trouser suit
Reflective: Though the film’s genre and cast has led some to expect a gangster thriller in the mould of GoodFellas or Casino, The Irishman is a more reflective, less flashy rumination on morality, violence and American power
Effects: Through de-aging effects, the performances by De Niro, Joe Pesci and Pacino span decades of their characters’ lives
Harvey Keitel, who was also at the premiere, spoke with MailOnline about the difference between working with De Niro, Al Pacino, and director Martin Scorsese this time around, compared to their past projects.
‘I hope I’m right when I say I think we’ve mellowed somewhat,’ he said. ‘I don’t think anybody has slowed down at all, I think things have gotten deeper, richer, more vital. We won’t slow down, we’re not going to go gentle into that good night.’
He added of the film: ‘I think personally it’s a very timely film in terms of its politics, in terms of the soul it deals with. I think it’s as relevant now than ever. The corruption of politics, how we’ve trampled on our souls in this time, very relevant.’
The Irishman, which hits UK screens on November 8, is the latest gangster film from the celebrated director.
Solo: After posing for snapshots with his Hollywood friends, actor Pacino took some time out to pose solo for photographers
Shades: The star wore a pair of large statement rings to the event, though his sunglasses appeared to be his prized accessory
Fan favourite: The legendary screen star was inundated with requests for autographs and selfies when he greeted his fans
Date night: Harvey Keitel, who also stars in the upcoming movie, attended the event with his wife of 18 years, Daphna Kastner
Black: Arriving at the star-studded event holding hands, the pair coordinated their looks, stepping out in all-black ensembles
Look of love: Keitel and his French-Canadian actress and film-maker wife looked loved up as they chatted on the red carpet
The film is the ninth feature collaboration between De Niro and Scorsese and their first since Casino in 1995.
Though the film’s genre and cast has led some to expect a gangster thriller in the mould of GoodFellas or Casino, The Irishman is a more reflective, less flashy rumination on morality, violence and American power.
Through de-aging visual effects, the performances by De Niro, Joe Pesci and Pacino span decades of their characters’ lives.
It stars De Niro as Sheeran, a mafia hitman and high-ranking Teamster official.
Shortly before his death, the real Sheeran confessed to killing Jimmy Hoffa (played here by Pacino) — a confession that remains in dispute, with Hoffa’s disappearance officially unsolved.
Golden girl: The radio DJ opted to largely forgo accessories, save for a pair of gold earrings and selection of statement rings
Scorsese called his film ‘an interesting hybrid’ as both something made for theatres and for watching at home.
‘All of us now are in an extraordinary time of change,’ Scorsese said. ‘But when it comes down to it, I felt – Bob (De Niro) felt – the picture had to be made for ourselves.’
Scorsese described the CGI used to digitally de-age De Niro, Pacino and Pesci in his new film as ‘an evolution of make-up’ at a pre-premiere event.
He said: ‘If we made the film earlier they could have played younger but at a certain point we missed that and then they said “use younger actors” and I said “what’s the point of that?” CGI is really an evolution of make-up, you accept certain norms in make-up, you know he’s not that old, she’s not that young, you accept the illusion.’
VIP guest: Hugh Grant was also among the attendees, hitting the red carpet with his wife of one year, Anna Elisabet Eberstein
Big night on the town: British actor Stephen Graham arrived at the hot ticket event with his wife of 11 years, Hannah Walters
Suits you, sir! The Liverpudlian This Is England star stepped out in style, donning a blue suit for the star-studded gathering
Pacino added: ‘I saw the film without any work, without effects and it was fine. I’m not the only one who felt that way. I think it’s really good we have it, we have this potential and it’s exercised in the film.
‘In the old days they put an actor we all knew and love and put grey hair on him and we would be like “oh he got older”, and you accept it because it’s in the story.’
De Niro said: ‘I always joke my career will be extended another 30 years, where it will evolve.
‘I am just happy we are at the beginning stages of it being explored and God knows where we will go and what excited me about it was Pablo (Helman, the visual effects supervisor) was doing this thing and wanted to make it state of the art, the best it could be.’
Group shot: As the event progressed, the stars joined (L-R) Sandy Powell and India Ennenga, among others, for a group shot
Evolution: Scorsese described the CGI used to digitally de-age his cast as ‘an evolution of make-up’ at a pre-premiere event
Chatting: In between posing for countless photographs, De Niro was seen chatting with his glamorous co-star India Ennenga
Pic: The stars also posed with producer Jane Rosenthal, who is is co-founder, CEO, and executive chair of Tribeca Enterprises
Coming to a screen near you…: The Irishman is set to be released in cinemas on November 8 ahead of its launch on Netflix
Scorsese explained of the fact that the film will stream on Netflix after the company agreed to foot the bill for the expensive CGI: ‘Having the backing of a company that says you will have no interference, the trade-off is it streams with theatrical distribution prior to that, I thought that is the chance we take.’
‘The new technology is bringing things that are unimaginable and not only is it something extraordinarily good for narrative films, narrative stores told emphasising motion picture images, but it opens up the original conception of what a film is and how it is to be seen has now changed so radically.
‘One thing that should always be protected as much as possible, and I think will always be there, is a communal experience and I think that is best in a theatre.
‘Homes are becoming theatres too but it’s a major change and I think one has to keep an open mind. There is no doubt seeing a film with an audience is really important.’
Statement: Her sleeveless gown featured a deeply plunging neckline and was teamed with a selection of bold statement rings
Makeup: Styling her flaxen tresses in a wavy bun, the British beauty added a touch of deep red lipstick to her captivating look
Tuxedos: (L-R) Comedians David Walliams and Jimmy Carr looked dapper as they arrived at the event in stylish tuxedos
Of Marvel-type movies he said: ‘The value of a film that is like a theme park film, Marvel-type pictures, where theatres become amusement parks, that’s a different experience.
‘It’s not cinema, it’s something else, we shouldn’t be invaded by it, so that is a big issue and we need the theatre owners to step up to allow theatres to show films that are narrative films.’
De Niro shot to success overnight when he was cast in the Godfather Part II (1974) alongside Pacino, while Keitel hit the big time after performing in Mean Streets (1973) and Taxi Driver (1976).
The Irishman premiered on September 27 at the New York Film Festival, finally raising the curtain on the director’s long-awaited, 209-minute crime-drama opus.
The Irishman is set to be released in cinemas on November 8 ahead of its launch on Netflix.
Stepping out in fine style: (L-R) Stephanie Kurtzuba, who stars in The Irishman, posed with fellow actress Welker White
Chic: Welker turned heads in a flattering black dress, while producer Emma Tillinger Koskoff looked stylish in a purple gown
Catching the eye: Stylish costume designer Sandy Powell looked elegant in a dark velvet jacket over a patterned dress
Love is in the air: Love Island 2018 star Wes Nelson arrived at the event with glamorous new girlfriend Arabella Chi on his arm