Tiffany Boone waited a long time to walk the red carpet for “Mufasa: The Lion King”: Tiffany Boone waited a long time to walk the red carpet at the premiere of “Mufasa: The Lion King” in Los Angeles on December 9. [The morning after the premiere at the Dolby Theatre, she called me and said, “I've been waiting a long time to walk the red carpet. Her patience was rewarded with a sculptural Balmain gown coated in blue, yellow, and red beaded stripes. 'To walk out feeling as confident and regal as the queen I was playing: ...... I feel really lucky to have been able to put all the pieces together and still connect with the film.”

On screen, Boone is the voice of Sarabi the lioness, the queen of the Pride Lands and mother of Simba. Her performance required gravitas, as did the red carpet gown that commemorated it.

When stylist Amanda Lim saw the gown Balmain creative director Olivier Rousteing chose from his recent collaboration with Disney, she knew this was it. The rows of bright red, yellow, and blue beads are an homage to the continent of Africa, where the film is set, and the structured, high, raised neckline is like a palace sculpture, Boone explains. Even before she put it on, she considered it a “work of art.”

“It's probably the most special dress I've ever worn,” Boone says. I'm a huge Balmain fan, and to be able to wear this dress on this occasion was really special to me.”

This work of art didn't have to compete with fancy accessories. Metallic red Christian Louboutin pumps, blue Irene Neuwirth earrings, and a red Drew Weber bag all complimented the gown without making it stand out.

Then came the glitz and glamour. When hairstylist India Hammond first saw the dress, she immediately suggested super-long braids. The idea was to create more volume at the top than the final result, which would flow down Boone's back. 'The dress is so striking from the front that I realized I needed to make it simpler,' she said. 'When I turn around and show you the back, the long ponytail looks dramatic'

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Her beauty look also revolved around moments of impact. Makeup artist Nadia Moham said to me, “Oh, red lips,” and I totally agreed. To make sure the red of her lips looked good against the gown, the rest of Boone's skin was kept clean and “really bronzed. She says, “Everything was such that it complemented the dress but didn't completely overpower it.”

At the theater, Boone took the stage with the entire cast as director Barry Jenkins gave a moving introduction. She also felt the gravity of the moment. Many years after its production, she reflected, “I think the film means a lot to a lot of people, and to a lot of us in the cast.”

Then the lights went down, the music played, and Mufasa appeared: Mufasa: The Lion King was performed to a full theater for the first time. Boone could sense immediately that it connected with the audience right next to her. She says, “My little nephew was in attendance at the premiere, and just seeing his little face, watching the movie, and then seeing him ask me questions afterwards, it was all really special.”

The night was worth the wait.