Da’Vine Joy Randolph Wanted to “Give Drama—and Body” at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala

Da’Vine Joy Randolph has been in her “creative bag.”

The Oscar-winning actor has not only been booked and busy in Hollywood since taking home the Best Supporting Actress award in 2024—for her commanding performance in The Holdovers—but the star adds that she has also been busy exploring different creative pursuits this fall, from gardening to developing future film or TV projects. “Life has been good—I’ve been starting my own garden, which is a fun thing I’ve been doing lately,” Randolph tells Vogue. “It’s a beautiful, bountiful garden. What I love about fall is it feels like a restart and a drive to the finish line: I feel very motivated right now. I’ve been developing projects, books, films, TV shows, podcasts.”

To take a break from all of that business, Randolph was one of the many A-list guests to attend last night’s 2026 Academy Museum Gala, which celebrated the museum’s mission to preserve and spotlight cinema. “I love what it stands for, but more importantly, I love that it feels like the kickoff of award season,” says Randolph. “It feels like a big reunion. We get to get all dressed up again. It’s really fun and a beautiful event.” One of her favorite moments of the evening? Hearing the speeches from the night’s special honorees, which included Charlize Theron and Colman Domingo. “My favorite moment of the night was Colman's speech,” says Randolph. “Everyone was on their feet by the end of it. It was deeply moving and right on time: He truly is a star through and through, not only for his work but for his beautiful heart and soul.”

Speaking of beauty: Randolph naturally had to deliver a glamorous look of her own on the Academy Museum Gala red carpet. No stranger to an awards season gala, the star proved she still does classic Hollywood glitz right: She looked to Louis Vuitton for a custom white, off-the-shoulder column gown—complete with a sweeping train. “It gives drama, elegance … and body,” says Randolph. As it turns out, it’s been in the works for quite some time. “Louis Vuitton and I have been excited over this for a while,” she says. “We’ve been wanting to get this look off, and this was the moment. I’ve been really spoiled by Louis Vuitton. They truly do it like no other: The fabrics are so rich and beautiful. There's no cost spared.”

For the star, her favorite details of the classic and streamlined frock were its well-cut structure. “The way that it truly carves out my silhouette—it feels like it's truly poured onto my body,” she says. “The execution is truly seamless. There’s not a seam or stitch that is shown. The atelier is really flawless with their execution.” She added that she also loved the more dramatic touches. “I love the drama that the train gives,” she adds. “I love the bustle in the back, which I was unsure if I would be into, but when you put it on, it’s a must. They truly put a lot of love, care, and thought into it. You can feel it.”

It was a fun night out for Randolph, who will now be getting back to her self-described creative grind. This fall, for starters, she has a brand new movie to promote: The Gallerist, co-starring Natalie Portman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jenna Ortega, Charli XCX, and more. “I’m excited! We filmed it two Januaries ago, and it is coming out December 4,” says Randolph, who has another exciting project in the works. “I’ve also executive-produced and played lead in my first movie called Dedicated to Morris Burke, and we filmed that over the summer. We’re now in early edits.”

Over the next two months, the actor will also be jumping into the busy swing of the 2027 awards season, with events like the 2026 Gotham or Governors Awards. She says the deep fashion preparations for those red carpets start. . . now. “I’m gearing up for awards season, which is great, so I can get used to being in corsets and getting dressed,” says Randolph. “Because when I’m off duty, I’m pretty chill.” Consider her striking ensemble last night the perfect training moment.

Below, see more photos from Randolph’s 2026 Academy Museum Gala night.