Who said you can’t wear a varsity jacket after high school? Not G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra actress Karolina Kurkova.
In June 2016, the model rocked a letterman jacket on the red carpet as she hit up the Tony Awards in New York.
Karolina Kurkova side parts her hair at the 70th annual Tony Awards held on June 13, 2026, at the Beacon Theatre in New York (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / Joseph Marzullo / WENN)
Seven years earlier, she played Courtney A. Kreiger / Cover Girl in the 2009 American military science fiction action film G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra film.
Karolína Kurková was born on February 28, 1984, so at the time of the premiere of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra on July 31, 2009, she was 25 years old.
Dennis Quaid, Karolina Kurkova, Channing Tatum, Sienna Miller, Rachel Nicolls, Marlon Wayans, and Adewale Akinnuoye – Agbaje attend a Photocall to launch ‘G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra’ held at HMS Belfast on July 22, 2009, in London, England (Goff / INFphoto)
Sienna Miller was born on December 28, 1981, so at the time of the premiere of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra on July 31, 2009, she was 27 years old. She played the role of The Baroness in the film.
Sienna Miller expressed to MTV that she was drawn to the role of the Baroness because it offered a departure from her previous roles.
As far as G.I. Joe, I wanted to do something where I wasn’t addicted to heroin or having a breakdown, or dying at the end. Also I think my parents were like “Please, stop doing these films. You’re killing us!” It’s a whole different world, a huge budget, a huge crew, with things blowing up around you all the time. I think initially I was just completely overwhelmed. I’d never done fight training much less gone to the gym, so this was a while new experience. But once I kind of realized what I was doing, it was really fun to make a movie that was just pure entertainment, and a completely different style of acting, really performing in a different way. That variety is really exciting.
Sienna Miller chose the role of the Baroness in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra because it presented a change from her previous characters (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
During the filming of the intense fight scene between Scarlett (played by Rachel Nichols) and the Baroness (played by Sienna Miller), both actresses sustained injuries. Rachel Nichols suffered burns, while Sienna Miller sprained her wrist and burned her breasts in another action scene.
To fully embody the character of the Baroness, Sienna Miller underwent extensive physical preparation. This included four months of weight training and boxing, as well as receiving instruction on firing live ammunition.
Blonde actress Rachel Nichols plays redhead Scarlett and dyed her hair red for the 2009 American science fiction action film Star Trek (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
Rachel Nichols, known for her blonde hair, did not need to dye her hair for the role of the redheaded Scarlett. She had previously dyed her hair red for her role in Star Trek (2009).
Rachel Nichols was born on January 8, 1980, so at the time of the premiere of G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra on July 31, 2009, she was 29 years old. She played the role of Shana “Scarlett” O’Hara in the film.
Karolína Kurková brought her modeling finesse to the role of Courtney Krieger in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra, where she served as Hawk’s aide-de-camp (Credit: Paramount Pictures)
In a cruel twist of fate, Courtney Krieger (Karolína Kurková) was betrayed by Zartan (portrayed by Arnold Vosloo), who plunged a knife into her back. Zartan sadistically relished in her agony before she eventually succumbed to her injuries and passed away.
“It was an amazing experience,” the Czech model told Billy in an August 2009 interview for “The Billy Bush Show.”
“Coming from my world of 10-inch stilettos and wings and [having] photographers follow me and wind machines – coming to the set where I’m a soldier and wearing camouflage and boots with guns and gadgets, it’s a good change. I like being a tough girl.”
Karolína Kurková plays Courtney Krieger / Cover Girl, Sienna Miller plays Ana Lewis / Anastascia DeCobray / The Baroness, and Rachel Nichols plays Shana M. O’Hara / Scarlett in G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra (Goff / INFphoto)
Despite her appreciation for the role, Kurková was left unsatisfied as her character, Courtney Krieger, could not fully participate in the intense action scenes.
“I don’t get to shoot any guns,” Karolina revealed. “Cover Girl, she’s a tough girl, [but] she’s the brain, she’s behind her desk all the time – she’s more the quiet girl. I don’t get any action scenes. I was very upset about that. Hopefully, next time.”
Karolina Kurkova tops her Alexandre Vauthier dress with a patched varsity jacket by Coach (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / Joseph Marzullo / WENN)
At the 2016 Tony Awards, Karolina sported a black dress from Alexandre Vauthier that featured a revealing thigh-high slit.
The model watered down the look with a patched varsity jacket by Coach adorned with Erickson Beamon “Hunger” and “Accidental Tourist” brooches.
Famous for not having a belly button, she finished her look with Melissa Kaye jewelry and Stuart Weitzman’s “Myex” sandals in black.
Karolina Kurkova’s feet in strappy Stuart Weitzman sandals (Credit: Ivan Nikolov / Joseph Marzullo / WENN)
We have to give this one to Karolina. She nailed the formal varsity look — and to the Tony Awards, at that.
We’re pretty sure she loved her outfit just as much as we did since she uploaded a sneak peek of her ensemble to the web before the evening.
You can order the popular Stuart Weitzman “Myex” sandals at Zappos and Shopbop.
Stuart Weitzman “Myex” Sandals, $455