Watch Joaquin Phoenix Sweetly Fix Rooney Mara's Dress on Rare Red Carpet Date Night at Academy Museum Gala

Mar. 15, 2025

Joaquin Phoenix and Rooney Mara at Academy Museum Gala.Photo:Emma McIntyre/Getty

Emma McIntyre/Getty

Joaquin PhoenixandRooney Mara’s red carpet date nights might be rare — but they’re always sweet!The couple stepped out at the Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Oct. 19, and not only did the A-list couple look absolutely dashing in their designer duds, but they shared a moment of affection on the carpet that left fans swooning.While Mara, 39, was posing for photos in her sheer vintage 1996 Givenchy couture dress, Phoenix, 49, couldn’t help but to do everything he could to make sure she looked her best — so he stepped in to fluff out her train and lay it out perfectly behind her.Variety captured a video of the moment on the red carpet. As Phoenix crouches behind Mara to fix her train, she continues to pose before laughing and softly shooing him away to pose for his own photos.Of course, photographers also captured the moment, and the two look more than happy to be on the red carpet together, sharing this rare moment of outward affection for the cameras.Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Joaquin Phoenix fixing Rooney Mara’s dress at Academy Museum Gala.Gilbert Flores/WWD/GettyThe PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!The couple’s appearance at the star-studded event comes after Mara supported her fiancé at the end of September at theLos Angeles premiere ofJoker: Folie á Deux, though the two didn’t pose for photos together on the red carpet. The two walked the carpet at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theater separately — Mara wore an all-black dress to the premiere, while Phoenix was seen wearing a black suit and white shirt as he posed for photos with Lady Gaga, his costar in the movie.Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix at Academy Museum Gala.Taylor Hill/FilmMagicPhoenix and Mara, who rarely appear together in public, originally met on the set of their 2013 movieHer, a film in which they portrayed ex-spouses. Phoenix famously toldVanity Fairin 2019 that he thought Maradid not like him at first, before realizing she was just shy.The pair worked together again on the 2018 moviesDon’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on FootandMary Magdaleneand made their first public appearance as a couple at the closing ceremonies for theCannes Film Festivalin May 2017.Thecouple shares two children, a son River, whom they welcomed in 2020 and named after Phoenix’s brother who died in 1993, and a second child,whose birth they did not announce.

Joaquin PhoenixandRooney Mara’s red carpet date nights might be rare — but they’re always sweet!

The couple stepped out at the Fourth Annual Academy Museum Gala at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on Oct. 19, and not only did the A-list couple look absolutely dashing in their designer duds, but they shared a moment of affection on the carpet that left fans swooning.

While Mara, 39, was posing for photos in her sheer vintage 1996 Givenchy couture dress, Phoenix, 49, couldn’t help but to do everything he could to make sure she looked her best — so he stepped in to fluff out her train and lay it out perfectly behind her.

Variety captured a video of the moment on the red carpet. As Phoenix crouches behind Mara to fix her train, she continues to pose before laughing and softly shooing him away to pose for his own photos.

Of course, photographers also captured the moment, and the two look more than happy to be on the red carpet together, sharing this rare moment of outward affection for the cameras.

Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Joaquin Phoenix fixing Rooney Mara’s dress at Academy Museum Gala.Gilbert Flores/WWD/Getty

Gilbert Flores/WWD/Getty

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

The couple’s appearance at the star-studded event comes after Mara supported her fiancé at the end of September at theLos Angeles premiere ofJoker: Folie á Deux, though the two didn’t pose for photos together on the red carpet. The two walked the carpet at Hollywood’s TCL Chinese Theater separately — Mara wore an all-black dress to the premiere, while Phoenix was seen wearing a black suit and white shirt as he posed for photos with Lady Gaga, his costar in the movie.

Rooney Mara and Joaquin Phoenix at Academy Museum Gala.Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Taylor Hill/FilmMagic

Phoenix and Mara, who rarely appear together in public, originally met on the set of their 2013 movieHer, a film in which they portrayed ex-spouses. Phoenix famously toldVanity Fairin 2019 that he thought Maradid not like him at first, before realizing she was just shy.

The pair worked together again on the 2018 moviesDon’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on FootandMary Magdaleneand made their first public appearance as a couple at the closing ceremonies for theCannes Film Festivalin May 2017.

Thecouple shares two children, a son River, whom they welcomed in 2020 and named after Phoenix’s brother who died in 1993, and a second child,whose birth they did not announce.

source: people.com