John Travolta recently revealed the inspiration behind his distinctive beret choices at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival.
The 72-year-old Grease star faced playful criticism from fans after donning three variations of the classic French beret over the weekend.
In a fresh interview with CNN, the celebrated actor shared that there was a significant reason for his stylish headwear during his directorial debut.
“Back in the day, directors wore berets and glasses. So I thought, why not embrace that look?” he explained, referring to his new role behind the camera for the film Propeller One-Way Night Coach.
He further mentioned that the memorable fashion choice would serve as a personal marker for this milestone. “I’ve been part of the movie industry for over 50 years, and looking back, events often blur together,” he noted.
Travolta added, “I told myself, ‘You’re a director now. Play the role. Dress like an old-school director.'” He even researched images of renowned filmmakers to perfect the look.
John Travolta, 72, shared the meaning behind the eccentric beret looks he wore at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival over the weekend; Seen on Saturday at Cannes
‘The old school directors wore berets and the glasses. And I thought, that’s what I’m doing,’ he told CNN, referencing his directorial debut Propeller One-Way Night Coach; Seen in 2024
‘I’m gonna do an homage to being a director,’ he said of his catchy red carpet look.
‘So I’m gonna play the part of being a director and then when I look back, I’ll know, “Oh, that was Propeller One-Way Night Coach, that was Cannes, that was when I won the Palme d’Or.” And I will have vividness of it.’
While he didn’t name the specific cinematic idol he took inspiration from, the actor might have been channeling The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola, who is known for wearing berets.
Legendary Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman was also fond of the head gear.
Travolta’s beret streak started on his way to the event, as he rocked a navy version of the hat while piloting his own plane to Cannes with his daughter Ella Bleu, 26, on Friday.
‘Big day, big night in Cannes. Stay tuned!’ he captioned an Instagram video showing the journey.
Later on Friday and then Saturday, the actor turned heads twice as he stepped out with new versions of the eye-catching look.
He first arrived on the red carpet in a beige beret and rocking a freshly dyed beard.
Travolta later modeled the kooky headwear again, this time wearing a black beret with matching spectacles, at a photocall for his new movie Propeller One-Way Night Coach.
Looking slimmer than ever he cut a stylish figure in an all black ensemble which featured a velvet shirt and skinny trousers.
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He added that the striking look would help him remember the event in the future. ‘I said, “I’m a director this time. You’re an actor, play the part of a director. Look like an old school director”‘
Travolta – who was mercilessly roasted for wearing three versions of the French-style cap – added that he ‘looked up pictures’ of famous filmmakers before him
Travolta’s beret streak started on his way to the event, as he rocked a navy version of the hat while piloting his own plane to Cannes with his daughter Ella Bleu, 26, on Friday
Travolta was once again joined by nepo baby daughter Ella Bleu, who stars in the movie, looking stylish in a black and white dress.
The actor and trained pilot has written and directed the movie, with its official synopsis reading: ‘Young aviation enthusiast Jeff and his mother embark on a cross-country flight to Hollywood that transforms into a life-changing journey filled with unexpected moments’.
On Friday, Travolta looked nearly unrecognizable as he modeled the cream headgear, accessorizing with a pair of gold spectacles, and showing off a trimmer frame.
Not content with his bookish new look drawing attention, Travolta was seen pulling a series of zany poses on the red carpet, flashing the peace sign and dramatically throwing his hands into the air.
His transformation was swiftly roasted by fans online who declared: ‘Who is that?’
Others wrote: ‘The hat is fine but what’s with the beard? He’s in his 70’s and his beard is black lmao.’
‘Had some cosmetic work. Looks 30 years younger.
‘It’s weird when 70-year-old men dye their beards black.’
While he didn’t name the specific cinematic idol he took inspiration from, the actor might have been channeling The Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola (seen in 2007), who is known for wearing berets
Legendary Swedish film director Ingmar Bergman was also fond of the head gear; Pictured circa 1957
‘It must be so nice to have so much money you can dress like a surrealist painter on the Left Bank of Paris in the 1930s.’
‘WHO is that and what have they done with John Travolta?!
‘Looks like she’s standing next to his Madame Tussaud’s wax statue.’
Others praised the star’s new look, writing: ‘Wow. He looks like a real artist now’ and ‘Man’s still fine with all them wrinkles. Hello pappy.’
Travolta was later seen weeping as he was presented with an honorary Palme d’Or ahead of the world premiere of his directorial debut.
He said: ‘This is beyond the Oscar. Surprise complement! I can’t believe this. This is the last thing I expected.’
He told Cannes director Thierry Fremaux: ‘You said this would be a special night, but I didn’t know it would mean this.’
‘This is a humbling moment, so thank you, Thierry, from the bottom of my heart. When I met with you in November, I had no expectation that my film would be accepted.’
‘And when Thierry said it was not only accepted but it was making history because it would be the first film ever accepted that early, I cried like a baby because I just couldn’t believe it.’
Travolta has written and directed Propeller One-Way Night Coach, based on his own 1997 children’s novel of the same name
‘Because in my opinion, you are the most discerning person in the movie industry. I was just happy to be here! I never expected this. Thank you so much.’
According to the official synopsis, Propeller One-Way Night Coach tells the story of a ‘young airplane enthusiast Jeff (newcomer Clark Shotwell) and his mother (Kelly Eviston-Quinnett) who set off on a one-way cross-country odyssey to Hollywood, which transforms a simple flight into the trip of a lifetime.
The movie is based on the 1997 children’s book of the same name that Travolta wrote.
Travolta and his late wife, Kelly Preston, also share sons Ben, 15, and the late Jett, who died in 2009 aged 16 after suffering a seizure during a family vacation in the Bahamas.
The book was also a tribute to Travolta’s lifelong passion for aviation and was inspired by his own childhood memories of watching the planes take off from LaGuardia airport in New York.
