de Armas paves the way for fellow Latina actors to land roles as significant as playing a Hollywood icon.
Netflix’s film depiction of Joyce Carol Oates’ bestselling novel on Marilyn Monroe’s journey into stardom will be on its platform on September 23. Before Blonde’s world premiere at this year’s Venice Film Festival, its latest trailer was just released.
Starring Spanish-Cuban actress Ana de Armas as Monroe, the trailer portrays her inner turmoil in Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend. The song is one of the Hollywood icon’s most recognizable performances in the 1953 film Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
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“I can’t face doing another scene with Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn doesn’t exist,” says de Armas in her depiction of Monroe during a dramatic scene in the trailer. “When I come out of my dressing room, I’m Norma Jean. I’m still here when the camera’s rolling.”
Monroe, whose original name was Norma Jeane Mortenson, tragically passed away at 36 due to a drug overdose in 1962. The film, which has earned an NC-17 rating, says to “boldly reimagine the life of Marilyn Monroe, exploring the split between her public and private selves,” according to the official synopsis.
Paving the way
When de Armas was announced to play the larger-than-life global sex symbol, eyebrows were raised given she’s of Latina decent. For The Gray Man actress, it’s a step in the right direction. “I do want to play Latina. But I don’t want to put a basket of fruit on my head every single time,” she told ELLE for its August cover story.
“So that’s my hope, that I can show that we can do anything if we’re given the time to prepare, and if we’re given just the chance, just the chance,” she added. “You can do any film—Blonde—you can do anything.”
Blonde is directed by Andrew Dominik (The Assassination of Jesse James, Chopper). At the same time, its other cast members include Bobby Cannavale (The Irishman), Adrien Brody (Peaky Blinders), Julianne Nicholson (Law & Order), and Xavier Samuel (Adore), and Evan Williams (Escape Room).
Banner photo taken from Blonde‘s official trailer.
