19 May 2026
John Travolta has revealed the hidden meaning behind his viral beret look for Cannes Film Festival.
John Travolta has explained his beret
The 72-year-old actor was spotted with different versions of the hat three times over the weekend as he celebrates his directorial debut Propeller One-Way Night Coach at the prestigious event in France.
Speaking to CNN, he said: “The old school directors wore berets and the glasses. And I thought, that’s what I’m doing.”
As well as wanting to look the part, Travolta also had a practical reason for sporting the French-style headwear.
He explained: “I’ve been around for over 50 years doing movies, but I can’t tell, when I look back, the difference between the events.
“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. I’m gonna do an homage to being a director’.
“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 did his research, making sure he looked up photos of famous filmmakers and while he hasn’t named the director who inspired his image, Francis Ford Coppola and Ingmar Bergman were both fond of berets.
He wore the first beret, a navy blue piece, in an Instagram Video showing him arriving in the city after flying his own place to the movie’s premiere on Friday (15.05.26).
He captioned the clip: “Big day, big night in Cannes. Stay tuned!”
He stepped out in a black suit with an ivory beret later that evening for the premiere itself, and completed the trio of looks with a black headpiece for a photocall the following day.
Propeller One-Way Night Coach, which is adapted from his 1997 children’s book of the same name, will drop around the world on Apple TV on May 29.
The movie follows a young aviation enthusiast, Jeff, and his mother as they head on a cross-country flight to Hollywood.
What follows is a life-changing trip with surprises along the way.
The movie marks Travolta’s first time at the helm behind the camera, while his 26-year-old daughter Ella stars as a flight attendant.
The first-time director has admitted winning the Palme d’Or is his proudest moment.
He wrote on Instagram: “I’ve never been more proud to win an award! To me the Cannes Palme d’Or award has always represented art at its finest. It is beyond a humbling experience.”
