John Travolta Explains His New Look at the Cannes Film Festival: ‘I’m Going to Play the Part’

John Travolta was in costume at the Cannes Film Festival.

The Hollywood icon, 72, raised eyebrows wearing round glasses and a series of jaunty berets while in France to promote his directorial debut, Propeller One-Way Night Coach, which stars his daughter, Ella Bleu.

“I said, ‘I’m a director this time. You’re an actor, play the part of a director, look like an old-school director,'” Travolta explained to CNN in an interview posted on Monday, May 18.

“So I looked up pictures from the ’20, ’30s, ’40s, ’50, ’60s, and the old-school directors wore berets, and the glasses, and I thought, ‘That’s what I’m doing. I’m doing an homage to being a director, so I’m going to play the part of being a director,'” he added.

Last week In Touch reported on how Travolta’s new look raised eyebrows, and a source said the transformation has also helped the Saturday Night Fever star feel energized.

The Pulp Fiction actor also told CNN the distinct appearance will help him remember the year when he looks back at photos. “I’ll know — ‘Oh, that was Propeller One-Way Night Coach, that was Cannes, that’s when I won the Palme d’Or,’ and I’ll have a vividness of it.”

Festival delegate Thierry Frémaux surprised him with an honorary Palme d’Or, or lifetime achievement award, ahead of the world premiere of his directorial debut.

Accepting the award, Travolta called the recognition “beyond the Oscar,” visibly moved by the surprise tribute.