British actor Posy Sterling may not have taken home the EE Rising Star Award at the BAFTA Film Awards 2026, but she definitely walked away with one of the most talked-about fashion moments of the night.
The stage, TV and film star, currently earning praise for the BBC film Lollipop, turned heads the moment she stepped onto the red carpet. And honestly, it wasn’t hard to see why. Posy chose to wear a striking creation by Indian couturier Gaurav Gupta, proving once again that Indian couture continues to shine on global red carpets.
Her agni-orange sculpted gown came from Gupta’s Spring/Summer 2024 couture collection Aarohanam, first unveiled at Paris Couture Week 2024.
The collection draws inspiration from Sanskrit philosophy and explores transformation – moving from the ordinary to something more elevated and powerful. And that energy translated beautifully on the BAFTAs carpet.
Styled by Aimée Croysdill, Posy’s look featured an off-shoulder silhouette with sculpted textures that almost looked molten under the lights. The fiery orange shade felt symbolic, almost like a flame in motion, making her stand out without looking overwhelming.
The gown balanced drama with elegance. A soft waist cut-out added a modern edge, while a flowing cape brought movement and theatre to the look. The sweetheart neckline, thigh-high slit and Gupta’s signature sculptural draping gave the ensemble a sense of effortless glamour, bold but still refined.
Her beauty look kept things grounded. Makeup artist Lisa Eldridge opted for understated, glowing makeup that let the dress remain the star, while hairstylist Louis Byrne finished the look with soft, polished hair.
What made the appearance memorable wasn’t just the colour or craftsmanship. It was how naturally Posy carried it. The gown celebrated Gupta’s couture artistry, but it also felt personal – confident, modern, and refreshingly unforced.
Awards or not, Posy Sterling delivered a red-carpet moment people will remember long after the BAFTAs lights dimmed. Sometimes, the real win is owning the fashion conversation, and she absolutely did that.
