Patrick Dempsey and his wife Jillian Fink made a stunning appearance at the premiere of Dempsey’s new movie, Ferrari, during The Venice Film Festival. The actor, known for his role as neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy, turned heads with his silver locks, a result of dying his hair for the role of Ferrari racing driver Piero Taruffi in the film. Dempsey looked dapper in a tailored black tuxedo paired with shiny dress shoes and aviator shades. Fink, meanwhile, looked beautiful in a strapless ivory gown with a fitted bodice and princess skirt. She completed the look with a stylish leather jacket draped over her shoulders.
Ferrari, directed by Michael Mann, also stars Adam Driver and Penelope Cruz. The film examines three months in the life of Enzo Ferrari, the founder of the car company, who is dealing with money problems, grief over his deceased son, and the discovery of a child with his mistress by his wife.
The Venice Film Festival, the oldest film festival in the world, opened on Wednesday with the premiere of Italian World War Two film Comandante, directed by Edoardo De Angelis. The festival, which runs until September 9, will close with the Spanish-language Netflix drama Society of the Snow.
The festival, held on the Venice Lido, attracts top film talent and often predicts frontrunners for the Oscars. Eight of the past 11 best director awards at the Oscars went to films that debuted at Venice. This year, however, the festival will see fewer Hollywood stars due to a strike by actors’ unions. Despite the strike, Ferrari actors, as well as the stars of the film Priscilla, about Priscilla Presley’s life, are allowed to attend without breaking the strikes as both films were made independently, not by studios.
Alberto Barbera, the festival’s artistic director, remains optimistic despite the strike’s potential impact on the upcoming awards season. He has managed to secure a strong line-up of films for this year’s festival, including works by directors such as Bradley Cooper, Yorgos Lanthimos, David Fincher, Sofia Coppola, Ava DuVernay, and Ryusuke Hamaguchi.
Fans eagerly awaited Dempsey’s appearance at the festival, where he was mobbed and signed autographs. While other stars might not be able to attend due to the strike, Priscilla Presley is expected to be in attendance for the premiere of the film based on her memoir.