Marilyn Monroe Estate defends Ana de Armas’ casting in Netflix’s ‘Blonde’

Helen Stephens2 August 2022

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Armas stars as the iconic bombshell in Netflix’s upcoming “Blonde,” a drama about the life of Monroe. But Armas, who was born in Cuba, doesn’t nail Monroe’s original breathy tone, some critics have accused. The estate, however, has a different opinion.

“Marilyn Monroe is a singular Hollywood and pop culture icon that transcends generations and history,” said Marc Rosen, president of entertainment at Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which owns the Marilyn Monroe Estate, in a statement to CNN. “Any actor that steps into that role knows they have big shoes to fill. Based on the trailer alone, it looks like Ana was a great casting choice as she captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity and vulnerability. We can’t wait to see the film in its entirety!”

Armas has not publicly commented on the criticisms, but in an interview with The Times of London, she said she took nine months of dialect coaching to get Monroe’s accent right.

“Blonde,” based on the novel by Joyce Carol Oates, is a fictionalized retelling of Monroe’s life and chronicles her rise. The film is set to premiere on Netflix on September 28.