John Travolta, 72, has shared the intriguing tale behind his viral beret-centric look at the prestigious 2026 Cannes Film Festival. In a new interview with CNN published on Monday, May 18, the actor revealed the reason behind his decision to sport the stylish headgear three times during the weekend for his directorial debut in France.
"The old school directors wore berets and glasses. And I thought, that's what I'm doing," Travolta told the outlet.
Upon arriving at the premiere of "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" on Friday, May 15, Travolta was accompanied by his daughter Ella, 26, who stars as a flight attendant in the film. He captioned an Instagram video as he arrived: "Big day, big night in Cannes. Stay tuned!" In the video, he wore a navy blue beret.
After changing for the main event, Travolta wowed in a classic suit and an ivory beret as he and Ella walked the red carpet for a rare father-daughter moment in front of the photographers. The "Grease" star admitted to CNN that there are definitely some looks in his past that aren't that memorable.
"I've been around for over 50 years doing movies, but I can't tell, when I look back, the difference between the events," he said. "And 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 continued, adding that he "looked up pictures" of talented filmmakers who came before him.
He wore a third beret during a photo call for "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" on Saturday, May 16. "I'm gonna do an homage to being a director," the "Hairspray" star told CNN of his red carpet wardrobe. "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."
Travolta also reflected on the surprise Honorary Palme d'Or via social media. "I've never been more proud to win an award!" he captioned an Instagram photo of himself smiling as he held up the hardware. "To me, the Cannes Palme d'Or award has always represented art at its finest. It is beyond a humbling experience."
The film, which will begin streaming globally on Apple TV on May 29, is executive produced by Mark Marraccini. It follows a young aviation enthusiast named Jeff and his mother as they embark on a cross-country flight to Hollywood that transforms into a life-changing journey filled with unexpected moments. "Propeller One-Way Night Coach" is an adaptation of Travolta's 1997 children's book of the same name.
