Madalina Ghenea turns heads in pearl gown at Cannes

CANNES, France, May 21 (UPI) -- Madalina Ghenea turned heads Wednesday at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival.

The 26-year-old Romanian actress made a big impression on the red carpet at the premiere of her new film Youth.

Ghenea wore a handcrafted gown by Romanian designer Cristina Savulescu. The dress featured a white, feathered mermaid train and dozens of pearl embellishments.

Ghenea portrays Miss Universe in the film, and made headlines for displaying her naked backside on the movie poster. Youth is directed by Paolo Sorrentino and co-stars Michael Caine, Harvey Keitel, Rachel Weisz, Paul Dano and Jane Fonda.

Ghenea previously appeared in The Mongrel with Alessandro Gassmann and Dom Hemingway with Jude Law. The actress is scheduled for three upcoming projects, including screenwriter Barry Morrow's (Rain Man) directorial debut, Condemned to Love.

"I've been so lucky, I don't have that much experience in acting yet," she told The Hollywood Reporter. "I only started four years ago and I took a break of a year, so this is amazing. I have to thank my casting director in Rome, Lilia Trapani Hartmann, who got me my two American projects."