Sophie Turner's dramatic dark hair transformation has divided fans after she stepped out at Louis Vuitton's Spring/Summer 2027 show in Paris, with some social media users branding her hairstyle 'old lady' and claiming the new shade does not suit her.
The actress, 30, swapped her familiar auburn hair for a much deeper reddish-brown shade as she attended the Louis Vuitton show during Paris Fashion Week on 6 October 2026.
She wore her long, darker locks in a pronounced side part with loose curls at the ends, completing a strikingly different beauty look from the red hair she became closely associated with through her role as Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones.
But the transformation did not receive a universally warm reception online. In a discussion on Reddit's r/popculturechat about her appearance, several commenters criticised the darker colour, hairstyle, and make-up.
Brunette Transformation Gets a Mixed Reaction
Turner's new colour was one of the most noticeable elements of her Louis Vuitton appearance. The actress, who is naturally blonde, became particularly recognisable for her red hair after playing Sansa Stark in Game of Thrones.
At the Paris show, however, she appeared with deep reddish-brown hair styled with a pronounced side part and loose curls. She paired the new hairstyle with an '80s-inspired Louis Vuitton look consisting of a leather jacket, matching trousers, a white tank top, heels, and a handbag with a gold chain strap.
Her make-up featured a taupe smoky eye, rosy blush, and a cool-toned nude lip. Together, the styling marked a noticeable departure from the softer red-haired image many fans associate with the actress.
The darker transformation comes as Turner takes on the role of Lara Croft in Amazon Prime Video's live-action Tomb Raider series, with the actress having previously discussed darkening her hair for the role.
Turner has previously spoken about how different hair colours can affect the way she is perceived and recognised. She has discussed how being blonde gave her more anonymity, while her red hair became closely associated with her Game of Thrones character.
The connection was also picked up on by Reddit users, with one commenter asking whether Turner was still filming Tomb Raider and suggesting that could explain the darker hair. The comment came amid broader speculation on Reddit that her darker hair could be connected to her upcoming Lara Croft role. Other users focused instead on the styling of Turner's hair and make-up.
Fans Criticise 'Old Lady' Hair and Make-Up
While some of the discussion focused on Turner's fashion, much of the attention centred on her new beauty look. One Reddit commenter criticised the combination of her lipstick and dark eye make-up, describing it as 'such an old lady style'.
Another agreed with the criticism of the hairstyle, writing: 'the hair style also reads old lady here. Like it's too... stiff.'
Others were similarly unimpressed by the darker shade. One commenter wrote: 'Woah dark hair is not for her', while another said: 'That hair colour is doing nothing for her whatsoever. She is almost unrecognisable here. She needs to go back to red.'
Some users argued that the issue was not necessarily the colour itself but the way it had been styled. One commenter said the hair was 'screaming old Hollywood' and suggested the style made Turner appear 'older and severe', while another believed a softer colour or face-framing style would have changed the overall effect. Others pointed to the contrast between the darker hair and Turner's complexion, with one commenter saying: 'It makes her face so pale!'
However, the reaction was not entirely negative. Some Reddit users defended the actress and suggested the look could make more sense in the context of her upcoming Tomb Raider role, while others simply appeared divided over the dramatic change. Turner's Louis Vuitton appearance highlights how significantly a change in hair colour and styling can alter a familiar celebrity image.
With the darker shade linked to her Lara Croft role, the transformation has certainly given fans plenty to debate. The look also demonstrates how closely Turner's appearance remains associated with the red hair she wore on Game of Thrones. For now, her Louis Vuitton appearance has offered fans a distinctly different take on the actress's signature beauty style.
