Viola Prettejohn Makes Stunning Venice Debut in Miu Miu Double Header

For 15 and a half minutes, the audience at Sala Grande theater in Venice stood and enthusiastically cheered on the cast and filmmakers of The Testament of Ann Lee, Mona Fastvold's speculative retelling of the founder of the radical religious sect the Shakers. It was the longest ovation at the festival so far, and its lead Amanda Seyfried, along with her co-stars, were overcome with emotion. For first-time Venice Film Festival attendee and Anne Lee actress Viola Prettejohn, it was a moment she'll never forget.

The film marks director Fastvold's return to the Lido (a small island off of Venice) a year after launching last year's award season darling The Brutalist. Expectations were high for the film world premiering out of competition at the festival, and the musical delivered earning rave reviews. After seeing the film for the first time in Venice, Prettejohn (The Witcher and The Crown) quickly realized she was a part of something very special and that the film would be a defining chapter in her career.

For the glamorous occasion, Miu Miu, arbiter of taste and It-girls, dressed the actress in not one, but two looks. The first, a preppy olive cardigan and gray drawstring mini skirt number for the film's photocall, and the second a silver satin column gown with black bra detailing for the premiere.

Ahead, the actress takes us behind her Miu Miu double feature, an exciting showing of classic glamour with a bit of edge.

On her first Venice Film Festival experience

It's really magical. It's complete chaos in the best possible way, but it is very much a roll with it kind of thing of being pushed around from events to this other thing and you don't really know what's going on half the time. I've just given myself over to it and have decided to be swept along with it. It's a really beautiful festival. It's the film festival I've always wanted to be a part of.

On her Venice Film Festival looks