Playing a beloved figure can be a daunting task for an actor. In an interview with AnOther magazine, Ana de Armas revealed she and the crew went to Marilyn Monroe’s grave to ask for “permission” to make Blonde, the NC-17 Netflix film about the legendary star’s life.
“We got this big card, and everyone in the crew wrote a message to her,” she said. “Then we went to the cemetery and put it on her grave. We were asking for permission in a way. Everyone felt a huge responsibility, and we were aware of the side of the story we were going to tell – the story of Norma Jeane, the person behind this character, Marilyn Monroe.”
It has been a long-time in the making as Ana de Armas signed up to play Marilyn Monroe in Blonde in 2018. Playing one of the most iconic women from Hollywood is a lot to take on. While dedicated to the role and having “fun” playing her, the Knives Out star managed to find a balance between herself and the role.
“Don’t get me wrong, I had so much fun. I wasn’t by any means in character for nine weeks, not between takes, not in my lunch breaks. I was Ana. But emotionally? The weight of it stayed with me for sure.”
Ana de Armas and crew went to Marilyn Monroe’s grave before starting Blonde
To deliver a portrayal of Marilyn Monroe, Ana de Armas is joined by plenty of heavy hitters. It is directed and written by Andrew Dominik (Killing Them Softly). The film will star Garret Dillahunt, Lucy DeVito (Little Demon), Adrien Brody, Julianne Nicholson (Mare of Easttown), and Bobby Cannavale. It is produced by Brad Pitt, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner, Tracey Landon, and Scott Robertson. Christina Oh will executive produce.
Over the last few years, the lead has become a major player in Hollywood herself, just like her role in the upcoming Netflix film. In 2016, she was with Miles Teller and Jonah Hill for War Dogs. The next year, she starred with Ryan Gosling in Denis Villenueve’s Blade Runner 2049. In 2019, she was in the star-studded whodunit Knives Out. Other major films have included No Time to Die, The Gray Man, Knock Knock, and Deep Water.
The film has had plenty of controversies surrounding it before its release, between its NC-17 rating, rape sequences, and the rumored abortions of the Hollywood legend. The world will get to judge it properly when it releases on September 28.