Natalie Portman and Jessica Alba stun red carpet fans in Venice

Natalie Portman and Jessica Alba stunned onlookers at the Venice Film Festival when they arrived at the red carpet of the prestigious Italian event, proving that a little bit of time in front of the make-up mirror can go a remarkable distance.

Portman, who made her breakthrough in Leon at the age of ten in 1994 and has since starred in films including Closer, Garden State and V for Vendetta, was promoting Black Swan, starring her in the lead role as an aging ballerina.

Her red chiffon dress, which initially looked to be a traditional evening gown, had a slit in the front running all the way up to her thigh, while her make-up stunned onlookers hoping to emulate the star with their own compact mirrors.

Meanwhile, Jessica Alba wore a mini dress that carried a long train, proving that Portman had plenty of competition in the style stakes. Alba was promoting Machete, an action film with herself, Michelle Rodriguez and Steven Seagal.

Fans of Portman will see her on the red carpet a lot in the next few months. The actress is currently involved in Your Highness and Thor, which are to be released next year.