Ukrainian Model Yuliia Ratner Makes Global Acting Debut “Couture” Alongside Angelina Jolie

Directed by Alice Winocour, a French filmmaker of Ukrainian descent, the production integrates the realities of the ongoing war into the narrative of the global fashion industry. The film features Angelina Jolie in the lead role and marks the global acting debut of Zaporizhzhia-born model Yuliia Ratner.

The narrative centers on three women—a filmmaker, a model, and a makeup artist—whose lives intersect during Paris Fashion Week. The production utilized authentic industry professionals and real locations, filming inside Chanel’s spaces, including the historic staircase on rue Cambon, to depict a fictional fashion house without visible branding.

Against this backdrop, the film examines the structural challenges, resilience, and concealed realities operating behind the carefully constructed identities of the high fashion sector.

Jolie portrays Maxine, an American director navigating personal upheaval who unexpectedly reconnects with a former creative partner, played by Louis Garrel. The cast also features Anyier Anei as Ada, a rising model escaping a predetermined future in South Sudan, and Ella Rumpf as Angèle, a makeup artist working in the shadow of the runway.

Ratner plays herself in the production: a refugee model fleeing the war. According to the press release, her cameo appearance introduces a direct, timely perspective on the experiences of Ukrainian professionals navigating the global industry during wartime.

Commenting on the production process and the inclusion of these realities in the final cut, Yuliia shared on her Threads page: “Alice was an incredible director. She didn’t just allow me to step into the script—she fully supported me. That’s why there are more references to the war in Ukraine in the film”

Earlier, Ukrainian boxing champion Oleksandr Usyk commanded international attention in a new arena, taking on a key role in director Benny Safdie’s latest feature, The Smashing Machine.

The film debuted at the Venice Film Festival, where the heavyweight champion’s cinematic crossover contributed to a highly successful world premiere that culminated in a 15-minute standing ovation.

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