While everyone is still buzzing about the Golden Globes, we cannot stop thinking about Jessica Biel’s Critics Choice Awards look. The 43-year-old actress made her long-awaited return to the ceremony on January 4 for the first time in eight years, and she did it in pure liquid-gold glamour, stepping out in a shimmering sequined Lanvin gown from the brand’s Fall/Winter 2025 collection.
The vintage-inspired moment was all about sculpted shine and a strong silhouette. Biel’s dress featured a sleek halterneck that framed her shoulders and collarbone, with sheer panels across the bodice adding a subtle peek of skin before the design cascaded into a tiered skirt.
The gown had a dramatic element, falling into layers of ruffled mesh and densely placed sequins that caught the light with every step, creating that high-wattage sparkle that reads instantly iconic on a red carpet. The cut also highlighted her toned arms, a detail that felt especially fitting as she preps for her role as Chloe Taylor in The Better Sister, which earned her a Critics Choice nomination.
Her beauty look kept the focus on the dress while still feeling polished and intentional. Biel wore her brown hair slicked back and parted into a low bun, making her gold earrings stand out. With the gown doing most of the heavy lifting, the overall styling felt modern and confident, proof that sometimes the best accessories are great tailoring, great texture, and a killer glow.
In The Better Sister, Jessica plays high-powered executive Chloe Taylor, whose life is completely upended when her estranged sister Nicky, played by Elizabeth Banks, re-enters her life. Jessica, who has been married to singer Justin Timberlake since 2012 and shares sons Silas, 10, and Phineas, 5, with him, said she was immediately drawn to the Amazon Prime Video thriller series after reading the script.
Speaking to InStyle in May 2025, she explained how the story kept pulling her in, “I initially read it and thought, ‘Oh, this is thought-out, because you keep dropping these little pebbles. Oh my gosh, another bombshell just exploded. Oh, there’s another bombshell.’” She added that it “keeps you salivating for more,” calling it “this kind of soapy, quirky, funny, dark, traumatic story.”
The show’s creators originally approached Jessica about the role of Nicky, but later called her back to offer her the part of Chloe. Looking back, she said the switch ultimately made sense, even if she initially felt tempted by Nicky’s wilder energy. “I realized that I was even more well-suited for that character, even though I was really excited about that more wild and sort of balls-out character, as Nicky is,” adding, “The universe just kind of opens up the right way if you can flow with it.”
Jessica also reflected on how certain opportunities shape a career, noting one major near-miss.
“I think about moments in my career. I auditioned for The Notebook, one of those ones that got away. What would my career have been like if I had the opportunity to do that movie? Clearly, that one wasn’t meant for me.”