The budding Norwegian star takes Vogue Scandinavia along for the ride that was her Sundance debut for The Ugly Stepsister's premiere: from her runway Dior look, to her DIY makeup, and the single apple that nearly had her deported
Journeying to Sundance Film Festival for the world premiere of The Ugly Stepsister, a modern retelling of the Cinderella story, an apple became the fairytale-like obstacle for Norwegian actor Thea Sofie Loch Næss. But this apple wasn't poisonous like Snow White's – it was accidentally smuggled. "We landed at Salt Lake City airport like zombies after 26 hours of travel, and as I walked through border control, I was stopped," Loch Næss recounts. "They said, 'Uh-oh, ma'am, it looks like you've brought some fruit into America!'" After being stripped of her passport and left in a room without any information, Loch Næss couldn't help but wonder if she would make it to Sundance at all. Luckily, after confiscating the apple in question, her passport was returned and she was released. "Lesson learned," she laughs.
More surreal experiences ensued, with Loch Næss and her co-stars Lea Myren and Ane Dahl Torp then bombarded at the airport arrivals hall by fans wanting autographs. "They had printed out so many photos, photos that I didn't even know existed of me," says Loch Næss, who plays the Cinderella-esque character of Agnes in the film. From there they made it to the cold, wintery landscape of Sundance, with its main street which the actor describes as feeling "like a movie set... I was wondering, 'Is this even real?'"
All things surreal soon gave way to wholesome, as the group of cast and crew of The Ugly Stepsister (a directorial debut from Norwegian talent Emilie Blichfeldt) settled into a cosy wooden cabin in Deer Valley. "It was like being on a cabin trip with amazing people, which made everything less frightening. It can be scary showing your movie to the world – and it was my first time at a proper film festival," Loch Næss reflects. Despite Sundance's reputation as a low-key festival with a chilled atmosphere, the 28-year-old actor decided to go all the way with her look. "Lea [Myren] and I were like, 'This is the world premiere of a movie that we're so proud of, we're going to go all out!'" She wanted to wear something that would nod to the film's "dark, raw, and wicked" mood, referencing its incredible 19th-century costume design by Manon Rasmussen. The ultimate look? An opulent black Dior ensemble from the house's latest collection, complete with elaborate beading and corsetry details, that made Loch Næss feel like a "cool Cinderella". "Usually I'm a bit shy and don't want to stand out or take up space," she says, "but I'm so glad I dressed up."
While her breathtaking gown was plucked from the Dior Resort '25 runway, Loch Næss did her own makeup – sharing mirrors, limited lighting and makeup with her co-stars. "It was super cute, I helped Ana with her eyeliner, Lea helped me with mine. It's my favourite vibe, getting ready with your girlfriends, I think there' nothing more intimate or beautiful."
According to Loch Næss, the premiere itself was a hit, sparking positive (if at times visceral) reactions from the audience. "People were screaming, crying, laughing... and one person even threw up. So I think we covered the full range of emotions."
See all the moments captured by Loch Næss in the lead up to The Ugly Stepsister's world premiere at Sundance below.
Thea described the cold winter landscape of Sundance as being like a surreal movie set.
The co-stars did their hair and makeup for the premiere themselves – helping each other and sharing products.
Getting into the full Dior look.
Lea Myren donning her shoes.
Ane Dahl Torp before the premiere.
Lea Myren helping Thea with her eyeliner.
Thea with director Emilie Blichfeldt.
Photo: Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival.
Ane Dahl Torp, Lea Myren, Emilie Blichfeldt and Thea Sofie Loch Næss. Photo: Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock for Sundance Film Festival.