Patrick Dempsey joined his wife Jillian Fink at the premiere of his new film “Ferrari” during the Venice Film Festival on Thursday.
The 57-year-old actor turned heads when he sported silver locks, having previously dyed her hair to play veteran Ferrari racer Piero Taruffi in the flick.
Appearing on the red carpet, Patrick cut a fine figure in a tailored black tuxedo, which he paired with shiny dress shoes and aviator sunglasses.
Meanwhile, Jillian, also 57, stunned in a strapless ivory dress with a chic figure-hugging bodice and princess skirt.
The beauty, who has three children with her husband, completed the look with a stylish leather jacket which she draped over her shoulders.
Salt and pepper: Patrick Dempsey turned heads when he sported silver locks at the premiere of his new film “Ferrari” during the Venice Film Festival on Thursday
Couple goals: Patrick accompanied his stunning wife Jillian Fink, 57, on the red carpet
The film, directed by Michael Mann, also stars Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz.
It examines three months in the life of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the automobile company. He has money problems, mourns his deceased son and has a child with his lover – which is discovered by his wife.
The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world and opens for the 80th time on Wednesday.
The festival opened with the premiere of the Italian World War II film Comandante, directed by Edoardo De Angelis. The event runs until September 9th and ends with a Spanish-language Netflix drama Society of the Snow.
The festival takes place on the Venice Lido – the so-called Venice Beach – a thin barrier island in the Venice Lagoon, just a short boat ride from the capital Venice. Unlike Venice itself, cars have access to the Lido.
The festival marks the start of awards season and regularly produces big favorites for the Oscars. Eight of the last 11 best director awards at the Oscars have gone to films that premiered in Venice.
The official selection of films shown consists of several categories, at the top of which are those competing for the coveted Golden Lion.
New films from directors including Bradley Cooper, Yorgos Lanthimos, David Fincher, Michael Mann, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay and Ryusuke Hamaguchi will compete for the prestigious prize.
Film stars and directors traditionally like to travel to the lagoon city to present their films. This year, however, there will be a little less glitz than usual as a Hollywood actors’ strike will prevent many stars from promoting their work here.
WHO? He seemed a million miles away from his dark-haired neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd (left, pictured in 2005) from “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Cool as a cucumber: Patrick cut a dapper figure on the red carpet in a tailored black tuxedo, which he paired with shiny dress shoes and aviator sunglasses
Style: Meanwhile, Jillian stunned in a strapless ivory dress with a chic figure-hugging bodice and princess skirt
The eye-catcher: The beauty, who has three children with her husband, completed the look with a stylish leather jacket that she draped over her shoulders
Big budget: The “Grey’s Anatomy” star plays veteran Ferrari racing driver Piero Taruffi alongside Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz in the Michael Mann-directed film
Putting a brave face on the expected disruption, the festival’s artistic director Alberto Barbera has managed to attract one of the strongest line-ups in recent years, defying major studio productions’ dire predictions of mass no-shows.
“We know that some talents won’t be able to attend… But some others will come because they work in independent films.” So everything is good. It looks very positive.’
Away from the picturesque canals of Venice, there is a sense of crisis in the film business, with strikes by both major U.S. actors and writers’ unions bringing much of the entertainment industry to a halt.
“If the strikes last longer, it will have a huge negative impact on the next (release) season and also the awards season,” Barbera said.
Catching up: Patrick (R) met his co-star Adam Driver (L) before the screening.
Support: Jillian hugged her husband of 24 years as they posed for the cameras
Event: The Venice Film Festival is the oldest film festival in the world and opens its 80th edition on Wednesday
Strike: Film stars and directors traditionally like to travel to the lagoon city to present their films. This year, however, there will be a little less glitz than usual as a Hollywood actors’ strike will prevent many stars from promoting their work here
Deal: Ferrari actors (and writers) can attend without breaking the strikes, as the film received an exemption because it was made by an independent company, Neon, and not a studio
Take part: The stars of the film Priscilla, about the life of Priscilla Presley, can also take part without breaking the strike, as it was filmed in Canada
Popcorn: The Film examines three months in the life of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the car company. He has money problems, is grieving his late son and has a child with his mistress – which is discovered by his wife (Adam Driver pictured in the film).
No one in Hollywood wants the strikers to do the wrong thing, and the entire film and television industry has come to a complete standstill.
The writers’ union WGA went on strike on May 2nd, followed by the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA on July 14th.
Ferrari actors (and writers) can attend without breaking the strikes because the film was granted an exemption because it was made by an independent company, Neon, and not a studio.
The stars of the film Priscilla, about the life of Priscilla Presley, can also attend without breaking the strike as it was filmed in Canada.
Earlier this week, it was confirmed that Priscilla has a SAG-AFTRA interim agreement that would allow the cast including Jacob Elordi – who plays Elvis – to come. However, it is not clear if he will.
Focus: Stars were unable to attend the 80th anniversary event due to ongoing industry strikes (pictured: Alexi Hawley, Michele Mulroney, Kieran Mulrony and Dermot Mulroney on the picket line on August 25)
Event: The festival takes place on the Venice Lido – the so-called Venice Beach – a thin barrier island in the Venice Lagoon, just a short boat ride from the capital Venice. Unlike Venice itself, cars have access to the Lido
A long time: The writers’ union WGA went on strike on May 2nd, followed on July 14th by the actors’ union SAG-AFTRA
Fans: Patrick was bullied and signed a lot of autographs
Priscilla Presley, on whose 1985 memoir the film is based, is expected to be in attendance. She is an actress herself and has appeared in the films Dallas and Naked Gun.
Most other stars have no choice but to stay away. Bradley Cooper, who wrote, starred in and directed the film “Maestro” about conductor and composer Leonard Bernstein, will not be in Venice for the premiere of what could be the defining film of his career. It’s from Netflix, a troubled company.
A festival spokesman confirmed last month that he would not be attending in solidarity with the SAG-AFTRA actors union strike.
The film “Challengers,” a tennis and threesome drama starring Zendaya and Josh O’Connor from “The Crown,” was scheduled to open the festival but was canceled due to the actors’ strike in July.
Prestige film Poor Things, an adaptation of a Frankenstein-like gothic tale starring Emma Stone, will premiere at the festival, but leading lady Emma Stone and the rest of the cast will not be in attendance.