Felicity Jones drew attention on the Toronto International Film Festival red carpet Tuesday, arriving at the premiere of Train Dreams in a scarlet floor-length gown that combined a structured neckline with a dramatic cape train.
Jones, 41, who plays Gladys Grainier in the adaptation of Denis Johnson’s 2011 novel, kept accessories minimal, pairing the gown with diamond drop earrings and a sleek bun. She was joined on the red carpet by co-star Kerry Condon, 42, who wore a sheer nude turtleneck top with a black figure-hugging maxi skirt.
Train Dreams, directed by Clint Bentley from a screenplay by Bentley and Greg Kwedar, follows Robert Grainier, a day laborer and logger helping to expand America’s railways. The story chronicles long separations between Grainier and his wife Gladys, and traces his experience of love, loss and changing times. The cast also includes Joel Edgerton, Clifton Collins Jr., William H. Macy and Condon.
The film is scheduled for a limited theatrical release in the United States on Nov. 7, followed by a global release on Netflix on Nov. 21.
Jones’s appearance at TIFF arrives amid public discussion she has had about gender imbalance and expectations in the film industry. In a recent Marie Claire cover interview, she said there are “always expectations about how one should be and it’s about pushing back on those,” and recalled early-career experiences she described as a “profound gender imbalance.” In the interview she also noted the need for female directors to secure funding and said the industry has seen an “extraordinary shift.”
The actress has been active both in front of the camera and behind the scenes. She recently launched her own production company and has appeared in a string of films, including the historical drama The Brutalist, released earlier this year. According to promotional material for Train Dreams, the film centers on the emotional and social consequences of America’s railroad expansion and one family’s struggle amid rapid change.
The premiere at TIFF is one of several festival appearances for Train Dreams as it heads toward its limited theatrical and streaming rollouts. Jones’s red-carpet look and her continued public comments on industry dynamics drew attention as festivals provide a platform for both films and the conversations that surround them.