Following her breakout performance in Knives Out, Ana de Armas was thrust into the spotlight, making her perfect for the part of Marilyn Monroe in Blonde. De Armas stole the show in Knives Out as the pivotal character caught in the web of an overwhelming family dispute after a murder. Her magnetic performance was the glue to Rian Johnson’s mystery thriller and earned her a Golden Globe nomination. More notably though, it was de Armas’ subsequent whirlwind of work that made her the perfect lead as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde.

After a lengthy spell in production development, Netlflix picked up director Andrew Domink’s drama centered around the life of Norma Jeane. With a script that had been finished in 2008 and multiple actresses previously attached to play Monroe, de Armas emerged as the ideal choice and was cast in 2019. Rather than electing to craft Blonde as a true Marilyn Monroe biopic, Dominik’s film is based on Joyce Carole Oates’ novel, which features a more fictionalized and sexually graphic adaptation of Monroe’s life. As such, the film will be the first in the Netflix catalog to feature an NC-17 rating. This creative choice from Dominik and the decision to cast de Armas have elicited divisive responses.

Related: Why Ana De Armas' Next Big Movie Is Already Controversial

Following the release of Knives Out, director Rian Johnson gave an interview where he discussed de Armas’ work on the film (via Deadline). Johnson compared de Armas to another highly regarded female actress of the same era as Monroe, Audrey Hepburn. De Armas also has the support of the Blonde director. “The one thing nobody is going to complain about is Ana’s performance,” said Dominik in a recent interview (via ScreenDaily). Through de Armas' performance as Marilyn Monroe, she has the ability to draw from the experiences of her own tumultuous journey following her Knives Out breakthrough.

Ana de Armas’ Can Draw On Lived Experience In Blonde

Blonde movie Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe

Since the release of Knives Out in November 2019, de Armas has been busy as one of the most sought-after rising stars in Hollywood. She featured in Wasp Network that same year, before holding prominent roles in two films that were released in 2020, The Night Clerk and Sergio. These were followed by No Time to Die, Deep Water, and The Gray Man. After Blonde, de Armas is also set to star in two more action films, the John Wick spinoff Ballerina and rom-com Ghosted opposite Chris Evans. Despite this extensive body of work across multiple genres, the prevalence of action roles began to lead to typecasting concerns for Ana de Armas. Luckily, Blonde will change that.

Dominik has indicated that the film will present multiple perspectives from de Armas’ character. This depiction will allow her to embody a nuanced and multilayered role, eliminating the typecast label. Further, de Armas will have the chance to reimagine the familiar glitz and glamor of the entertainment icon in Monroe in Blonde. But more importantly, de Armas can draw on her own experience of being thrust into the spotlight to portray a woman that was so often invisible behind her glamorous Marilyn Monroe persona, Norma Jeane.

Ultimately, despite the controversy surrounding the movie, de Armas has been championed by colleagues, fellow cast members, and directors. While this support is vital, de Armas is already equipped to impart the perfect portrayal. De Armas has described playing Marilyn Monroe as her dream role. As text from the trailer reads, Monroe is “watched by all” and “seen by none.” For Ana de Armas, this isn’t just a tagline, but a situation that she’s intimately familiar with. The overwhelming schedule, ever-present controversy, and near-constant spotlight mirror Monroe’s own experiences. These experiences since Knives Out can only strengthen de Armas' performance in Blonde.

Next: Blonde: What The Marilyn Monroe Netflix Adaptation Needs To Get Right

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