Kaley Cuoco paid stylish homage to one of her longtime idols while stepping out at the Critics Choice Awards 2026 on Sunday night.
The actress, 40, turned heads on the red carpet in a plunging black suit inspired by a look famously worn by Jennifer Aniston at the 2002 Golden Globes.
After turning heads on the red carpet, Cuoco revealed the sentimental inspiration behind her glamorous ensemble as she shared side-by-side images of herself and Aniston.Â
‘I wanted to recreate and reimagine a favorite look I’ve always loved, worn by the iconic @jenniferaniston at the ’02 Golden Globes,’ she wrote on Instagram after the ceremony.
Cuoco’s modern update featured an oversized black satin blazer worn open over a black bra, paired with wide-leg satin trousers by Simkhai.Â
She finished the look with statement Pomellato jewelry and styled her blonde hair into a dramatic beehive, which resembled Aniston’s original look.
Kaley Cuocopaid stylish homage to one of her longtime idols while stepping out at the Critics Choice Awards2026 on Sunday night
‘From the hair and makeup, to the suit and the jewels, we put our spin on it,’ Cuoco added. ‘But represented a look I always loved, worn by a woman who will always be iconic.’
The Flight Attendant star attended the awards in support of her fiancé, actor Tom Pelphrey, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor.Â
Cuoco shared several loved-up snaps from the evening, including photos holding her man’s hand on the red carpet.
‘@criticschoice with my favorite nominee @tommypelphrey,’ she wrote alongside one post.
The couple, who share their two-year-old daughter Matilda, appeared relaxed and affectionate throughout the night.
For Cuoco, the homage carried deeper meaning than fashion alone.Â
Long before becoming a household name herself, she crossed paths with Aniston, 56, as a child actress in the 1997 romantic comedy Picture Perfect.
In a 2020 Instagram post, Cuoco reflected on the experience, revealing she was credited simply as ‘little girl’ – and that her lone line was ultimately cut from the film.
The actress, 40, turned heads on the red carpet in a plunging black suit inspired by a look famously worn by Jennifer Aniston (pictured above) at the 2002 Golden Globes
The Flight Attendant star attended the awards in support of her fiancé, actor Tom Pelphrey, who was nominated for Best Supporting Actor
‘All I remember is spending the entire day convincing myself to tell Jen how much I loved her,’ Cuoco wrote at the time. ‘Friends was my life.’
Despite Aniston’s immense fame even then, Cuoco said the actress left a lasting impression.
‘She was a gem to me then and a gem to me now,’ she added. ‘Funny to see this full-circle moment. You never know where life will take you, or whose life you’ll touch along the way.’
During a 2016 appearance on Late Night With Seth Meyers, Cuoco admitted that she was a ‘crazy obsessed’ fan of Aniston.
She went on to fondly recount meeting the Friends star at NBC’s All-Star Tribute to James Burrows, where she nearly lost her composure.
‘She turned around and said, “Kaley!’ It was like the skies opened up,”‘ Cuoco recalled. ‘She smelled like a garden.’
