Wednesday 22 May 2013

Jessica Chastain dazzles in 'priceless' jewels once owned by Elizabeth Taylor at Cannes 50th anniversary screening of Cleopatra

'It was a symbol of their epic love': Jessica Chastain dazzles in 'priceless' jewels once owned by Elizabeth Taylor at Cannes 50th anniversary screening of Cleopatra

By LOUISE SAUNDERS and BAZ BAMIGBOYE IN CANNES

PUBLISHED: 18:32, 21 May 2013 | UPDATED: 21:30, 21 May 2013

It was one of the most iconic movies of its age, and marked the start of an epic real-life love story between Hollywood legends Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor.

And Jessica Chastain paid tribute to Tinseltown's golden couple by wearing a glittering diamond and sapphire necklace once owned by the screen goddess as she attended a special 50th anniversary viewing of Cleopatra at the 66th Cannes Film Festival on Tuesday evening.

The 36-year-old actress teamed the dazzling Bulgari piece - a gift from Burton to Taylor when they fell in love on the set of Cleopatra - with a matching ring, and a simple cream draped floor-length gown by Versace.

'A symbol of their epic love': Jessica Chastain paid tribute to Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton by wearing a glittering diamond and sapphire necklace once owned by the screen goddess to the 50th anniversary screening of Cleopatra on Tuesday evening

Letting the incredible jewellery take centre stage, the Zero Dark Thirty star kept the rest of her red carpet ensemble relatively simple.

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Speaking about the iconic necklace and ring, Jessica told the Daily Mail: 'It was a symbol of their epic love.

'I call them the Cleopatra jewels because Richard Burton bought them for Elizabeth Taylor when they fell in love when they were shooting Cleopatra. I'm so excited to be wearing them.'

Grecian goddess: The 36-year-old actress teamed the dazzling Bulgari piece - a gift from Burton to Taylor when they fell in love on the set of Cleopatra - with a matching ring and a simple cream Versace floor-length gown

Hollywood glamour: Letting the incredible jewellery take centre stage, the Zero Dark Thirty star kept the rest of her red carpet ensemble relatively simple

Screen icon: Jessica was co-hosting the official Cannes Film Festival screening with Taylor's son Christopher Wilding and Burton's daughter Kate Burton

Diamonds are a girl's best friend: Burton bought the stunning jewels in the early 1960s, and they were re-purchased by Bulgari at a Christies sale last year following Elizabeth Taylor's death

Burton bought the stunning jewels in the early 1960s and through the 1970s, and they were re-purchased by Bulgari at a Christies sale last year following Elizabeth Taylor's death.

Jessica added: 'I feel so lucky to be wearing them. They looked so fabulous on her and she was a movie star from her head to her toes. That kind of glamorous star doesn't exist anymore but their diamonds do.'

In spite of the redhead beauty's protestations that stars like Elizabeth Taylor don't exist any longer, she certainly did a very good impression of old Hollywood glamour.

Dazzling: The Oscar-nominated actress wore her locks teased into tumbling curls and swept to the side, while showing off her perfect porcelain skin with natural make-up and dramatic eyes

All eyes on her: Jessica certainly commanded attention as she worked the red carpet like a true professional

Thrilled: The actress believes the glittering diamonds are a symbol of Burton's 'epic love' for Taylor

Working it: Jessica's simple Versace dress, featuring stunning draped detailing and a flattering cinched-in waist, proved the ideal backdrop to showcase Taylor's incredible diamonds upon

Wearing her locks teased into tumbling curls and swept to the side, the actress showed off her perfect porcelain skin with natural make-up and dramatic eyes.

And Jessica's simple Versace dress, featuring stunning draped detailing and a flattering cinched-in waist, proved the ideal backdrop to showcase Taylor's incredible diamonds upon.

The actress admitted she would 'jump at any opportunity' to play Cleopatra on screen, adding: 'I don't think it's every going to happen but I would never turn it down if it ever came up.'

Showbiz pals: Jessica chatted to fellow actor Adrien Brody on the red carpet

Giggles: The duo certainly seemed to be in high spirits as they shared a joke on the red carpet

Pucker up: The actor treated his partner Lara Nieto to a romantic kiss in full glare of the world's photographers

Golden girl: Lara looked incredible in a metallic floor-length gown as she posed on the arm of her dapper man

Joining Jessica on the red carpet at the special 50th anniversary screening of Cleopatra was actress Milla Jovovich, who looked incredible as she flashed some sideboob in a midnight blue crystal-encrusted gown.

Adrien Brody was on hand to toast the iconic film event, looking dapper in an immaculately-tailored tuxedo as he planted a tender kiss on his partner, Lara Nieto.

Also walking the red carpet on Tuesday night was the likes of Aishwarya Rai, Dita Von Teese and Rosario Dawson.

Smouldering: Milla Jovovich looked incredible as she flashed some sideboob in a daring midnight blue number

Daring: The 37-year-old actress looked incredible in her crystal-encrusted gown as she hit the red carpet

Commanding attention: The daring dress showed off the star's statuesque figure in all its glory

Screen goddesses: Actress Aishwarya Rai wowed in aqua silk, while Rosario Dawson chose a glittering gold number

Twentieth Century Fox have restored and re-mastered the original four hour two minute full version of the epic movie about the cunning Egyptian queen and her romance with Mark Anthony, played by Burton.

Jessica was co-hosting the official screening with Taylor's son Christopher Wilding and Burton's daughter Kate Burton.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the film's release, Cleopatra will be shown again in all its glory for a limited run at the Curzon cinema in Mayfair, London, from July 12 and selected other UK cinemas.