Once Upon A Time in America premieres at Cannes

Fans of Jennifer Connolly in Atlanta and elsewhere, the actress has come a long way since her portrayal of the young “Deborah Gelly” in Once Upon a Time in America, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival at Palais des Festivals earlier today on May 18, 2012 in Cannes, France.

Perhaps eleven or twelve at the time the production was being filmed, Jennifer Connelly, 41, looked quite elegant with her ornate updo and her sleek strapless black gown, finishing her look at deep red lipstick. Husband Paul Bettany looked quite dapper in his dark tuxedo by her side as well…

Joining Jennifer were her costars Robert De Niro, James Woods and the lovely Elizabeth McGovern, who currently stars in the UK series Downton Abbey.

Elizabeth McGovern, who had played the older “Deborah Gelly,” wore a lovely ivory colored halter neck gown with frills cascading down from the neckline and along the top of the bodice.

The 1984 film directed by Sergio Leone, Once Upon A Time in America is about a former Prohibition-era Jewish gangster who returns to Brooklyn 30 years later, where he once again must confront the ghosts and regrets of his old life.

Attending the Cannes Once Upon A Time in America premiere stylishly were Robert De Niro’s lovely wife Grace Hightower (loved the metallic belt to embellish the sleek black gown!), Lapo Elkann (loved the black and white tuxedo with the broad contrasting lapels!) and Zuzu, Salma Hayek and Francois-Henri Pinault, Li Bingbing (in a lovely strapless cream gown) and Charlotte Casiraghi (in a tourmaline green gown with lots of frill cascading down along the edges).

Enjoy the slide show of those attending this epic film Once Upon A Time in America as it premiered at Cannes Film Festival…