Da’Vine Joy Randolph has firmly established herself in her “creative bag.” Since taking home the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2024 for her commanding and critically acclaimed performance in The Holdovers, the star has been relentlessly booked and busy in Hollywood. However, as the fall season unfolds, Randolph is proving that her artistic ambitions stretch far beyond the silver screen, encompassing everything from hands-on gardening to developing forward-looking film, television, and literary projects.
Reflecting on her current chapter, the Oscar winner notes that life has taken on a wonderfully productive rhythm. “Life has been good—I’ve been starting my own garden, which is a fun thing I’ve been doing lately,” Randolph shares. Describing her latest green-thumb endeavor as a “beautiful, bountiful garden,” she explains how the transition into autumn brings a distinct sense of renewal. “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.”
Amid her whirlwind schedule of writing, producing, and developing, Randolph welcomed a glamorous evening of respite as one of the standout A-list guests at the 2026 Academy Museum Gala. The high-profile annual event celebrates the museum’s core mission to preserve, honor, and spotlight the rich history of cinema. For Randolph, the gala carries a dual significance, serving as both a tribute to the art form and a much-anticipated gathering of industry peers.
“I love what it stands for, but more importantly, I love that it feels like the kickoff of awards season,” Randolph says. “It feels like a big reunion. We get to get all dressed up again. It’s really fun and a beautiful event.”
The evening was filled with memorable highlights, chief among them the powerful speeches delivered by the night’s special honorees, a distinguished group that included Charlize Theron and Colman Domingo. Randolph singled out Domingo’s address as a defining moment of the night, noting the profound impact it had on everyone in attendance. “My favorite moment of the night was Colman’s speech,” she says. “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.”
Naturally, speaking of beauty and star power, Randolph delivered a show-stopping visual moment of her own on the Academy Museum Gala red carpet. As an actor thoroughly accustomed to the high-stakes fashion demands of awards season circuits, she once again demonstrated her mastery of classic Hollywood glitz. For the occasion, Randolph partnered with Louis Vuitton to wear a custom white, off-the-shoulder column gown that featured a dramatic, sweeping train.
“It gives drama, elegance… and body,” Randolph says of the striking creation. The garment was not a last-minute decision, but rather the culmination of a sartorial collaboration that had been brewing for quite some time. “Louis Vuitton and I have been excited over this for a while,” she notes. “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.”
The architectural precision of the dress emerged as one of its most compelling features for the star. She praised the expert tailoring that effortlessly defined her silhouette. “The way that it truly carves out my silhouette—it feels like it’s truly poured onto my body,” she explains, emphasizing the meticulous craftsmanship of the French fashion house. “The execution is truly seamless. There’s not a seam or stitch that is shown. The atelier is really flawless with their execution.”
Beyond the streamlined structure, Randolph found herself unexpectedly enchanted by the more theatrical elements of the gown. While she initially harbored reservations regarding certain traditional details, the final product completely won her over. “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.”
Following the festivities of the gala, Randolph is wasting no time pivoting back to her self-described creative grind. Her professional calendar remains packed with major milestones, beginning with the upcoming theatrical release of The Gallerist, a star-studded feature film that pairs her alongside an ensemble cast including Natalie Portman, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Jenna Ortega, and Charli XCX. “I’m excited! We filmed it two Januaries ago, and it is coming out December 4,” Randolph says.
In addition to promoting The Gallerist, Randolph is eagerly awaiting the rollout of a deeply personal cinematic venture that marks a major expansion of her behind-the-camera responsibilities. Demonstrating her expanding influence in the industry, she took on the dual roles of executive producer and lead actor for her very own film, Dedicated to Morris Burke. Following a summer shoot, the project has officially entered its early editing phases.
Looking further ahead into the final months of the year, Randolph is preparing to dive headfirst into the rigorous demands of the 2027 awards season campaign trail, with major industry events like the Gotham Awards and the Governors Awards looming on the horizon. True to form, the serious fashion preparations for those high-profile carpets are already underway.
“I’m gearing up for awards season, which is great, so I can get used to being in corsets and getting dressed,” Randolph says with a laugh, noting the sharp contrast between her glamorous public persona and her private life. “Because when I’m off duty, I’m pretty chill.”
With her striking Louis Vuitton ensemble at the Academy Museum Gala serving as a flawless trial run, Da’Vine Joy Randolph is more than ready for whatever the spotlight—and her garden—brings next.
