Emma Watson Sure Knows How to Make an Exit

We may have gone crazy over actress Jennifer Connelly’s embellished Givenchy Couture dress at the recent Mexican premiere for the upcoming film Noah — and for good reason, as the dark-haired celeb look sexier and more glamorous than ever — but we were just a wee bit disappointed that her co-star, British starlet Emma Watson, wasn’t there to share the spotlight on the red carpet. And when we say “a wee bit,” what we really mean is “a whole lot.”

But the star — who captured our hearts more than a decade ago with her role as Hermione in the Harry Potter series — more than made it up to us when she showed up at the Noah premiere in Berlin on Thursday wearing a drop-dead gorgeous, black and navy-blue Wes Gordon gown that had us filled with equal amounts envy and admiration.

Pairing the tulle and chiffon gown — which featured a thin black belt that subtly cinched and defined the actress’s already-tiny frame — with pointy black pumps and silver and black jewels, Watson was a picture-perfect lesson in polished, sophisticated minimalism. As always, her hair and makeup were flawless, too, with the English beauty highlighting her porcelain skin with a color-drenched red lip, voluminous lashes, and sexy, slicked-back hair.

The front of her gown alone is perfection enough, but it’s in the back where the fun truly begins. Turning her scoop-neck dress into a racer-back number, Watson surprised us all with one small detail — a thin, floor-length chiffon bow — that made her really go out with a bang.

And the actress wasn’t the only Noah star to go delightfully dark in Berlin either, as her co-star Connelly made a return to her usual black ensemble in a high-slit, perfectly fitted column dress from Lanvin, which she paired with a faux bob and ankle-strap pumps.

Watson has been on a bit of a minimal kick lately, trading out her in-your-face prints and embellished gowns for options that are more toned down and, many would say, more sophisticated. First, she showed up to the 2014 Golden Globes in what appeared to be a plain red dress, only to turn into a basically backless gown with ankle-length black pants underneath. But aside from the whole surprise-pants thing — which we were admittedly impressed with — the outfit itself was pretty plain and simple.

She then showed up to the Oscars just weeks ago sporting a number that, while pretty, was a bit disappointing to see on a fashion-savvy celebrity who typically wears some of the most fabulous gowns on the red carpet. Choosing a two-piece Vera Wang ensemble — which featured a high-neck, metallic top and sheer mermaid skirt — the actress certainly sparkled, but in a notably understated way.

Maybe this just proves that no one (not even a style star like Watson) can win them all. But for the Berlin Noah premiere at least, she scored a major victory.