Clare Foy, known for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II, traded royal tweeds for old Hollywood glamour on the red carpet at the Venice Film Festival's opening night. Foy, 42, stars as fictional newspaper executive Jules Davies in Danny Boyle's "Ink," which depicts Rupert Murdoch's 1969 acquisition of The Sun newspaper.
Foy was joined by her co-stars Guy Pearce, 58, who plays Rupert Murdoch, and Jack O'Connell, 36, portraying Larry Lamb. "Ink" is based on a stage play that Murdoch himself attended twice. Pearce shared that he had indirect contact with Murdoch through his daughter Elisabeth, who conveyed that her father was pleased with Pearce's casting.
George Clooney, 65, also graced the premiere with his wife Amal, 48. Clooney, in Venice to receive a Lifetime Achievement award, was accompanied by Amal, who wore a black Tom Ford gown. "I'm 65 years old — everything is melancholy," Clooney remarked about aging, while also expressing gratitude for his family and career.
Director Danny Boyle described Murdoch at the time as representing "a breath of fresh air in what was a very rigid British society," with the film beginning as "something that's fun and different, challenging a rigid order."
Foy described her experience portraying a 1960s tabloid executive as "really intoxicating," noting the power reporters held. "They had power at their fingertips," she said. "They knew what they wrote would be what people read and what people believed."
Clooney, whose father was a news anchor and journalist, reflected on his own career. He mentioned working less as he gets older, particularly stepping away from directing due to the time commitment. "I can't pull the kids out of school anymore. I'm happy to doing this, being an actor, again. It's fun. I'm a character actor now," he stated. He also expressed hope to make a new "Oceans" movie with Brad Pitt and Matt Damon when their schedules align.
"Ink" is set to be released in UK cinemas on January 8, 2027, with a limited US cinema run beginning December 11, 2026, and streaming on Netflix in the US on the same day. The Venice International Film Festival continues until September 12.