Romain Duris Is My Cannes Dream Man

Duris attends the photocall for Final Cut at the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images

There are plenty of chiseled, well-heeled, and manicured men at the Cannes Film Festival, but one has caught my eye: the French actor Romain Duris. A French film icon for almost 20 years, he’s appeared in films like Chinese Puzzle, Russian Dolls, and L’auberge Espagnole. Currently, he’s at Cannes for the spoofy zombie flick Coupez! (Final Cut!). I know Duris from the series Vernon Subutex, which chronicles an aged and dated sleazebag record-store owner who shacks up with women in order to find housing. In it, he is a bit too reminiscent of Charles Manson for my taste, with a messy shoulder-length comb-over and an exhausted gauntness. Yet his grifter character remains incredibly charming, and Duris’s allure onscreen translates into his real-life style.

Duris attends the opening ceremony gala dinner for the Cannes Film Festival in 2022. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images

The actor’s look is never too try hard and remains deliciously laid-back (classic French-babe style, no matter the gender!). This past week, the lanky French man took to the festival’s casual roll call in an oversized ombré camp shirt by Celine Homme that made him look ablaze: The burning orange color started at the bottom and ascended into black at the waist, embellished by equally lanky, glittering palm trees. He wore this with neat black trousers, a pair of white shoes, thin silver bracelets, and a large pinky ring. He wore the same shoes when he arrived at the festival the day before but paired them with faded jeans and a leopard-print camp shirt. His best accessory here? His incredibly thick, tousled hair.

Duris attend the Eiffel premiere at Le Grand Rex in 2021. Photo: Getty Images

The actor has a history of easy homme style and embodies the designer Hedi Slimane’s manicured-yet-ruffled vibe. (After all, he did sit front row at the spring 2020 Celine men’s show, beltless and in a bomber jacket.) There’s no peacocking here. Some of my favorite red-carpet looks from the actor evoke just that laissez-faire mood. Promoting Exils in 2004 at the Cannes Film Festival, he wore a full white linen suit with an unbuttoned polo, revealing a thick swathe of chest hair. Last October, for the premiere of Eiffel, he opted for a polished striped suit but with a scoop-neck white T-shirt and an untied pale yellow silk scarf.

Duris at the Cesar Awards Ceremony in 2006. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images

And when Duris is more buttoned-up? He still has that lovely ease. For the more formal red carpet at Cannes this week, he opted for a sumptuous black three-piece velvet suit with silver embroidery on the lapel. At the Cannes Film Festival in 2018, he wore a suit jacket and vest but over a simple white T-shirt and with a trimmed rabbinical beard. After the César Film Awards in 2015, he wore a simple black suit that had a large sequin rose embroidered on the side. No peacocking here for Duris, just simplicity with a hint of flair. Bien sûr!

Duris at the photocall for Nos Batailles at the Cannes Film Festival in 2018. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images
Duris attends the Exil photocall at the Cannes Film Festival in 2004. Photo: Courtesy of Getty Images