Ana de Armas’ turn as Marilyn Monroe in Blonde will release on September 28, 2022, depicting the actress’ life from start to finish. Blonde’s NC-17 rating has brought it a lot of attention due to the promise of an unfiltered biopic. Biographical films about actresses aren’t a new concept, though, and there are plenty of others that viewers can check out.

These include Oscar-nominated movies like Nicole Kidman’s Being the Ricardos to other features that depict Marilyn Monroe’s life. It’s interesting to watch these stories to appreciate how biopics shed light on the struggles that actresses have had to go through in real life due to the exposure that the film industry brings. It will also put viewers in the right frame of mind to watch Blonde.

Funny Girl (1968)

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Barbara Streisand in a romantic moment in Funny Girl

Based on the life of Broadway star Fanny Brice, Funny Girl is a musical drama starring Barbra Streisand in the lead role. It details Brice’s tumultuous relationship with gambler Nicky Arnstein and how it ultimately affected Brice’s life and career.

Funny Girl was a big hit upon release, with Streisand winning the Academy Award for Best Actress. Blonde will be looking into Marilyn Monroe’s low points due to her own failed relationships and checking out Funny Girl is a good way for viewers to see how this aspect works. The movie also benefits from Streisand’s powerful vocal performances.

Judy (2019)

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Renée Zellweger singing in Judy

Renée Zellweger won the Oscar Award for Best Actress for her performance in Judy, where she portrayed Judy Garland during a period of intense struggle. Judy is primarily set during the end of Garland's life and depicts the events leading up to her tragic demise.

Much like Blonde, Judy is a biopic meant to humanize an actress known for her star power but whose internal struggles weren’t highlighted until it was too late. Zellweger’s committed performance and the sensitive touch she brought to portraying Judy Garland made the film a compassionate take on the actress’ life.

Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (1999)

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Halle Berry singing in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

Halle Berry is known for being one of the actors to play Catwoman and for her Oscar win in Monster's Ball. But she also won the Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her turn as the titular actress in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. The biopic follows her rise and fall in the industry, including the ill-treatment she received from the men in her life and the disastrous affair she had with Otto Preminger.

Blonde is set to depict the dark side of Marilyn Monroe’s relationships and her uncertain demise, which are elements present in Introducing Dorothy Dandridge. The film shows the actress’ mysterious passing and how the sad parts of her life may have affected her in the end.

Burton And Taylor (2013)

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Helena Bonham Carter looking to her left in Burton and Taylor

While there are great movies to enjoy from Helena Bonham Carter’s collaboration with Tim Burton, she received some of her best critical praise with another film carrying the same name as the latter. Burton and Taylor is about the 1983 reunion of Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton.

The former husband and wife attempt to perform together while Taylor desperately hopes for a reconciliation, which is the crux of the story. Blonde will feature Marilyn Monroe at her most vulnerable, especially when it comes to romances and this can be found in Burton and Taylor as well. Bonham Carter was lauded for capturing Elizabeth Taylor’s personality and spirit to make her come across as sympathetic in the movie.

Frances (1982)

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Jessica Lange looking outside her car in Frances

Jessica Lange garnered some of the best reviews of her career for Frances, which is about the life of actress Frances Farmer. Farmer was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia but suffered during a time when awareness was minimal, and she was unable to receive the proper help she required.

Frances’ raw portrayal of the actress’ mental health struggles should be present in Blonde as well, as both Frances Farmer and Marilyn Monroe engaged in high-profile issues that are tragic in retrospect. Frances is also a biopic credited with being effective due to the lead actor’s incredible performance.

The Dirty Picture (2011)

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Vidya Balan dancing in The Dirty Picture

This Bollywood film stars Vidya Balan as Silk Smitha, who was one of the first actresses to appear in taboo films exploring topics of sexuality. The Dirty Picture was praised for depicting its provocative material in a tasteless manner by showing how it contributed to Silk Smitha’s rise in the industry but the toll it took on her emotionally.

Marilyn Monroe was a similar figure during her heyday for appearing in films that were considered bold for the time, which is what makes Blonde and The Dirty Picture similar to each other. The Bollywood feature is an interesting watch for how Vidya Balan completely transforms for the role.

Being The Ricardos (2021)

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Nicole Kidman looking offscreen in Being The Ricardos

Nicole Kidman is credited as an actor who always nails her roles, and there was no exception for Being the Ricardos. Kidman played Lucille Ball alongside Javier Bardem who portrayed Ball’s husband Desi Arnaz. Being the Ricardos depicts their turbulent relationship that was destroyed due to Arnaz’s infidelity.

Few actresses received as much attention to their private lives as Lucille Ball did and this ties in well with the notoriety that plagued Marilyn Monroe. Blonde is set to show how relationship issues troubled Monroe, which is the crux of the matter in Being the Ricardos where Ball’s psyche is explored.

My Week With Marilyn (2011)

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Marilyn Monroe with her husband in My Week With Marilyn

There are plenty of movies about Marilyn Monroe that can be watched before Blonde since the actress was such an interesting part of entertainment history. My Week with Marilyn is set in 1967 during the film of The Prince and the Showgirl where Monroe’s dynamic with Colin Clark is explored.

My Week with Marilyn shows just how fleeting being with Monroe was for those around them, as the story takes place over the course of a week when Clark falls in love and loses her. Blonde will showcase this aspect across Monroe’s lifetime, but the passionate portrayal of the actress is the defining factor in both films.

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