Jenna Ortega turned heads at the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards with a bold and glamorous nod to 1992’s cult classic 'Death Becomes Her.' The actress, known for her love of campy horror, brought a modern twist to Isabella Rossellini’s unforgettable character Lisle von Rhuman, wearing a nearly-naked top adorned entirely with multicolored jewels and crystals.
Ortega’s Givenchy ensemble by Sarah Burton was a showstopper, featuring a delicate cascade of costume jewelry-style gemstones and pearls draped strategically across her torso, paired with a sleek black skirt featuring a dramatic thigh-high slit. She completed the ensemble with a bold makeup look, including her now-signature bleached eyebrows and a dark red lip.
She also wore Pomellato jewelry and towering Christian Louboutin platform heels, highlighting Ortega’s 5’1” stature with striking elegance. Zanna Roberts Rassi revealed on Live From E! that the stunning outfit arrived “in a box shaped much like a coffin,” showcasing its theatrical and darkly glamorous vibe. “It is made of extra-large jewels and not much else,” she added.
The homage to Rossellini’s character, who famously wore a jewel-encrusted top while topless under a wine-colored sarong in the film, was clear. 'Death Becomes Her,' a dark comedy starring Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn alongside Rossellini, revolves around women’s desperate quest for eternal youth, blending camp, horror, and satire. A Broadway adaptation of the film even premiered in 2024.
The actress has been making headlines for her stunning outfits, most recently while promoting Season 2 of 'Wednesday.' From lingerie-inspired silhouettes to deconstructed corsets and snake-skin illusions, Jenna’s wardrobe has evolved into a walking narrative of rebellion, and her beauty choices have followed suit.
Ortega’s looks gained momentum during the press tour for her 2024 film 'Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,' where she channeled iconic looks from the original 1988 movie. From striped ensembles echoing Michael Keaton’s Beetlejuice to a Thom Browne plaid skirt and sweater replicating Winona Ryder’s Lydia Deetz from the film’s memorable final scene, Ortega and her stylist Enrique Melendez have crafted a narrative of homage and style.
At the 81st Venice Film Festival, Ortega continued this tradition, stunning in a red Dior Haute Couture gown reminiscent of Lydia’s red wedding dress from Beetlejuice, complete with matching Dior Joaillerie jewelry and red makeup.