Vanessa Hudgens is starring in Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater’s directorial debut, Downtown Owl, which premiered at the 2023 Tribeca Festival on June 8, Thursday.

The two actresses, who have a notable height difference, commanded attention as they posed together on the red carpet at the SVA Theatre in New York City in matching daring black ensembles.

Hudgens stands 5 feet 1 inch (154.9 cm), while Rabe is 5 feet 8 inches (172.7 cm) tall. This means that there is a 7-inch (17.8 cm) height difference between the two actresses.

At the Tribeca Film Festival premiere of their new movie, Downtown Owl, held at the SVA Theatre in New York City on June 8, 2023, Vanessa Anne Hudgens stood at a height of 5 feet 1 inch (154.9 cm), while Lily Rabe measured 5 feet 8 inches (172.7 cm) in height, showcasing a notable height difference between the two actresses (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

In true Vanessa Hudgens fashion, the 34-year-old actress embraced her dark side in a charcoal black dress that put her gym-honed figure on full display.

Stylist Jason Bolden selected the gorgeous cashmere creation from Michael Kors’ Fall/Winter 2023 collection.

The $1,650 midi dress features a flattering low-cut neckline and revealing triangular side cutouts that add a summertime appeal to the design, while the dark color, long bell sleeves, and ankle-length hem make it appropriate for a red carpet event.

Her edgy ensemble was paired with open-toe black heels showcasing her white pedicured feet.

Vanessa Hudgens embraces her signature dark glamour in a Michael Kors charcoal cashmere dress featuring a plunging neckline and side cutouts (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

Bolden, whose celebrity clients include Sabrina Carpenter, Storm Reid, Gabrielle Union, and Cynthia Erivo, dressed up Hudgens’ witchy outfit with gleaming gold accessories.

He layered three gold pendant necklaces around her neck and added multiple earrings and rings, including her oval-shaped diamond engagement ring from fiancé Cole Tucker, for extra flair.

Vanessa’s glam team, composed of Danielle Priano and Soo Park, gave her a dramatic hair and makeup look. Priano parted her sleek tresses in the middle and styled them in two tight space buns, with her baby hairs brushed down and molded into swirls.

As for her makeup, the Journey 2 actress wore smokey eyeshadow in a shimmering gray-blue hue with eyeliner and false lashes. She also added color to her lips and dusted a peachy blush onto her cheeks.

Vanessa Hudgens styles her dark hair in sleek space buns with swirled baby hairs and wears fake eyelashes, smokey blue-gray eyeshadow, and nude lipstick (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

Meanwhile, the 40-year-old actress and director was sensational in her lacy black naked dress from Zimmermann’s Fall 2023 collection.

While it seemed heavy for a summertime film festival, Rabe exuded undeniable elegance in the Sensory Lace York Gown, selected by her stylist Leith Clark.

Downtown Owl director Lily Rabe exudes elegance in a black floral lace gown by Zimmermann and a pair of Jimmy Choo heels (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

Like Hudgens’ gown, hers also had revealing side cutouts. The dramatic number also featured a see-through V-shaped bodice with ruffled lace trims, a mock neck, long sleeves, and a flowy skirt with a see-through lace hem.

The American Horror Story actress styled the marvelous piece with minimal jewelry, including dainty long drop earrings and delicate gold bracelets.

Lily Rabe keeps the rest of her look simple with minimal jewelry, soft pink makeup, and a messy updo (Credit: Roger Wong / INSTARimages)

Lily Rabe, 5 feet 8 inches tall and significantly taller than the average American woman, towered over Vanessa in a pair of Jimmy Choo “Gian” platform pumps with 1-inch platforms and 5.5-inch block heels.

Also available in pink on Farfetch, they’re made of supple leather and have trendy square toes and wide crossover ankle straps with a tonal buckle.

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What Is Downtown Owl Movie About?

Downtown Owl is based on the 2008 novel of the same name by Chuck Klosterman.

Set in the 1980s, the film centers on three characters whose lives, along with that of the other people living in the fictional town of Owl, North Dakota, are changed by a whiteout blizzard.

It stars Ed Harris as Horace, an elderly man who spends most of his time at a nearby coffee shop reminiscing happier times; August Blanco Rosenstein as Mitch, a depressed high school backup quarterback; and Lily Rabe as Julia, an English teacher at the local high school who just moved to Owl.

Couple Lily Rabe and Hamish Linklater made their directorial debut in the drama film, which also featured Finn Wittrock, Jack Dylan Grazer, and Vanessa Hudgens.

“Working with Lily is just something that I’ve always wanted to do,” Hudgens told Brit and Co. on the red carpet. She added that “it was amazing and it was so much fun” working with first-time directors Linklater and Rabe.