Angelina Jolie’s leg is back for an encore.

The Oscar winner, 50, turned heads at the Toronto International Film Festival on Sunday night, stepping onto the carpet in a chocolate-brown silk trench coat from Gabriela Hearst.

The 50-year-old actress and filmmaker stepped onto the TIFF carpet wearing a striking chocolate-brown double-breasted coat dress by Gabriela Hearst. Though modest at first glance, the piece revealed its daring twist as soon as she struck her pose: an exaggerated slit that allowed one leg to peek through, reminiscent of her confident stance from the Oscars. Paired with sheer black tights and classic black pumps, the outfit was a clever balance of power dressing and sensuality, demonstrating Jolie’s mastery of understated yet impactful fashion.

Observers were quick to note the intentional callback. Social media immediately filled with side-by-side images of her 2012 look and the new ensemble, pointing out how effortlessly Jolie had revisited one of her most famous fashion moments without appearing stuck in the past. Instead of replicating it exactly, she reinvented the aesthetic with maturity and sophistication, showing how style can evolve while still embracing playful nostalgia. For fans, it was like witnessing a full-circle moment, one that bridged her past with her present.

What made the appearance even more compelling was the timing. Jolie was at TIFF not only as a red-carpet figure but as a filmmaker and star, promoting her latest project Couture. The film dives into the politics and artistry of the fashion world, with Jolie playing a director whose personal experiences collide with the high stakes of haute couture. Her choice of outfit, then, wasn’t just about fashion for fashion’s sake—it carried thematic weight. She embodied her film’s narrative even before the screenings began, making her appearance a carefully crafted extension of her artistic work.

The double-breasted design, styled as a dress, opened into a thigh-high slit that immediately recalled her unforgettable 2012 Academy Awards look — when a black Versace gown and a single pose turned her right leg into a cultural phenomenon.

Thirteen years later, the actress opted for a chocolate brown coat by Gabriela Hearst, emphasizing the look’s thigh-high slit.Arrush Chopra/NurPhoto/Shutterstock

Jolie accessorized the look with sheer nylons and black patent leather Louboutin stiletto pumps.Sean O’Neill / SplashNews.com

The moment sparked immediate comparisons to her Oscars night thirteen years ago, when Jolie’s exaggerated stance spawned the viral @AngiesRightLeg Twitter account and a wave of memes.

Jolie has since joked about the internet-famous moment, making a quip about her pose during the 2014 Oscars rehearsals.WireImage

The look recalled her viral 2012 Oscars dress, which spawned the Twitter account @AngiesRightLeg and countless memes.AFP via Getty Images
The red-carpet reprise comes amid a busy period for Jolie. She stars in “Couture,” which premiered at TIFF and explores the intersection of film and fashion.

Off-screen, she is expanding Atelier Jolie, the collaborative studio she launched in 2023 to champion upcycling and artisanship; past projects have included a co-designed capsule with Chloé and an Oscars gown crafted from repurposed silk.

And if Sunday night’s appearance proved anything, it’s that the actress still knows how to turn a carpet into a cultural moment.

Angelina Jolie has once again proven that her red-carpet presence is unrivaled, turning heads at the Toronto International Film Festival 2025 with a look that instantly sparked déjà vu for fans who remember one of her most iconic fashion moments. Thirteen years after her now-legendary appearance at the 2012 Oscars, where her thigh-high slit Versace gown birthed the viral “Angelina’s leg” meme, Jolie delivered another leggy look that reminded everyone why she remains a timeless fashion figure.

As always, Jolie accessorized with restraint, letting the bold cut of the coat dress do the talking. She wore delicate gold earrings, a minimalist ring, and kept her makeup natural, opting for soft earth tones and her signature nude lip. Her hair, styled into loose waves with a glossy blonde finish, framed her face with effortless elegance. The overall effect was striking not because it screamed for attention but because it radiated quiet confidence—an aura Jolie has perfected over decades in the public eye.

This moment carried inevitable echoes of her 2012 Oscars appearance, which remains one of the most enduring red-carpet moments of the 21st century. That night, Jolie’s black velvet Versace gown with its daring slit sparked a cultural frenzy. Her exaggerated pose, hand on hip and leg dramatically thrust forward, became an internet sensation within hours. Memes circulated endlessly, a parody Twitter account amassed hundreds of thousands of followers, and the phrase “Angelina’s leg” became shorthand for red-carpet dominance. Few celebrity fashion moments have enjoyed such lasting cultural impact.

Now, more than a decade later, Jolie’s decision to revisit that imagery suggests both self-awareness and playfulness. Unlike many stars who shy away from viral moments, Jolie leaned into hers, reclaiming it on her own terms. By channeling the memory through a chic, contemporary lens, she reminded audiences that iconic fashion is not about shock value alone—it’s about timing, confidence, and the ability to weave storytelling into style.

Fans on social media reacted with delight, praising her ability to outshine younger stars with a look that was both daring and age-appropriate. “Angelina Jolie proves she is still that girl,” one user wrote, while another noted, “Thirteen years later and she’s still schooling everyone on how it’s done.” Critics echoed this sentiment, applauding the sophistication of the outfit and the thoughtfulness of its cultural resonance. Unlike her original leg moment, which was born of spontaneity, this one felt carefully orchestrated yet no less impactful.

Fashion experts were quick to highlight the coat dress as a bold choice, one that played with the boundaries between formalwear and outerwear. By wearing the garment without pants and using the slit to create drama, Jolie blurred categories and delivered a look that was simultaneously tailored and sensual. Stylists compared the effect to trends championed by the Olsen twins’ label, The Row, where structure meets subtle provocation. In Jolie’s hands, the style became a testament to her ability to interpret fashion with authority.

Beyond fashion, this TIFF appearance underscored Jolie’s evolving relationship with the spotlight. In the years since her divorce from Brad Pitt, she has taken a more selective approach to public appearances, focusing on her humanitarian work, directing projects, and raising her children. When she does choose to step onto a red carpet, the impact is magnified precisely because of its rarity. Each outing becomes an event, and this one, with its deliberate nod to her past, solidified her reputation as someone who knows exactly how to command attention without overexposure.

The nostalgia factor also highlighted how much has changed since 2012, not just for Jolie but for the cultural conversation around women, fashion, and internet virality. At the time, her pose was met with both admiration and ridicule, a mix that reflected the internet’s then-nascent meme culture. Today, her callback is seen less as a punchline and more as a savvy reclamation of her own narrative. It’s a reminder of how women in Hollywood can turn even fleeting viral moments into lasting cultural touchstones.

Her appearance at TIFF 2025 also emphasized her role as a multihyphenate talent. While her leggy look captured headlines, the event was equally about her film work and her continued evolution as a creative force. Couture is already generating buzz for its exploration of beauty, power, and the intersection of personal and artistic expression. In many ways, her fashion choice became a metaphor for the film itself: bold, boundary-pushing, and unafraid to make a statement.

It would be easy to dismiss the callback as a mere publicity stunt, but for Jolie, it felt more like a celebration of her journey. At 50, she has lived through the highs and lows of fame, from being typecast as a tabloid fixture to being recognized as a serious filmmaker and humanitarian. By revisiting one of her most lighthearted moments with elegance and grace, she showed that she is not only comfortable with her past but also skilled at integrating it into her present narrative.

Ultimately, Angelina Jolie’s TIFF 2025 red-carpet moment was more than just a fashionable appearance. It was a reminder of her cultural staying power, her ability to reinvent herself, and her awareness of her own place in the fashion and entertainment lexicon. Thirteen years after a single pose made history, she demonstrated that true style is not about fleeting trends—it’s about creating moments that resonate, endure, and evolve. Once again, with a single flash of leg, Jolie left the world talking.