This is The Close-Up , where the biggest names in entertainment explain the story behind their latest personal style statement.

For Naomi Ackie, the 2026 Academy Museum Gala was the " Met Gala of L.A." Ackie made her actual Met Gala debut years ago, but being immersed in the "American side of the industry" still leaves her feeling like a "tiny fish in a very big pond," she tells Marie Claire .

So, to remain "authentically myself" at her first Academy Museum Gala , the British actor reunited with Balenciaga, a brand that "aligns with all of [my] experiences," she says, adding "it's quite odd that some of my experiences are going to galas."

Naomi Ackie's pre-red carpet routine requires a fuzzy robe.

(Image credit: Maggie Nutley & Ava Ghasiri)

Since boarding the Balenciaga bandwagon last year, the French fashion house has "always felt like a good fit, especially for big red carpet moments" like the Kering Women in Motion Awards and the Cannes Film Festival , both in 2025.…