I’ll give Ana de Armas some credit: she was able to somewhat easily recreate Marilyn Monroe’s look and general physical presence for Blonde. When Ana was cast as MM, I think most people didn’t believe she would be able to pull off any part of it. There’s a new trailer – the first full-length trailer – and she is absolutely pulling off some parts of Marilyn. The biggest problem might be Ana’s voice and accent? Marilyn absolutely used that breathy little-girl voice in movies, but she didn’t talk that way all the time. I hear Ana’s Cuban accent too. I mean, it is what it is, and Ana is trying to recreate MM’s voice.
Before this moment, I didn’t realize that Bobby Cannavale had been cast as Joe DeMaggio and Adrien Brody is playing Arthur Miller. Apparently, the movie doesn’t use those names, probably because DeMaggio and Miller’s estates wouldn’t authorize it. The film also has Julianne Nicholson, Garret Dillahunt, Scoot McNairy and a lot of people I don’t recognize off the top of my head. Caspar Phillipson plays JFK.
Anyway, the book is such a huge downer and I expect the movie will be too. Still, I’ll probably watch it. I want to see what Ana does with this role and now I’m obsessed with Cannavale as DiMaggio.
Photos courtesy of Netflix.
She looks great but I can’t with that accent lol
Yeah, me neither. She does look great, but you would have thought they would have hired a linguistics coach or if they did, a better one. Because her accent is very thick…
Some actors just do not have the “ear” for accents, and it doesn’t matter how good the coach, they can only work with the raw materials they get. This trailer is so extra, I just can’t!!
The reason they are leading with so many images is because Ana does look similar to Marilyn (though I see it more in photos than the trailer). I agree with @Marietta…the accent just breaks it for me and I’m surprised that they didn’t work harder on eliminating that before shooting. Like…it feels like an impersonator.
May this movie will shock us and tell the story of Cuban-born Marilyn in an alternate reality which is why the other characters’ names have been changed.
Yes to everything you said. In some spots, she’s got the look, but the voice is distracting.
I am annoyed by these comments. Nicole Kidman is a really good actress, one the best of this century according to NYT and I can hear her accent in almost every movie she makes.
Why is that okay but not a Spanish accent?
She is a good actor. Let a Latina play a WASP … it is called acting.
Yes! Itawy.
To be fair, go back and look at the comments from the Spencer trailer and you’ll see the same discussion about Kristen Stewart’s accent. Also a lot of the comments about Lily James playing Pamela Andersen as well.
No one said anything about an Hispanic accent- she doesn’t speak similarly to Marilyn, which, for some, can be distracting.
The essence of MM’s disconsolation seems captured- the trailer shows the subjugation of female roles in that studio system. I would see this film.
FYI, my kids are uncomfortable re actual MM’s film roles- her characters were -all-ingenue subservient and yet sexualised. Understandable how anyone would get soul sick with this typecasting.
People have definitely complained about Kidman’s ozzie accent slipping through from time to time when she’s playing an American. Plenty of people crucified Paltrow for her British accent. Hell, people shit on Blake Lively for her Boston accent in The Town..I could go on and on. I don’t even really blame Ana, but more the director/producer etc for not making sure that she got the voice down before starting filming. I’m sorry but when you’re playing an iconic woman like Marilyn Monroe who’s voice was very distinct, you have GOT to get it right.
I think it’s fine Ana’s accent bleeds through, especially because it’s consistent. What really bothers me is a 90-98% accent. Jarring! Do it perfectly or be yourself, and we’ll just accept it as part of the character.
Outside of Meryl Streep, one person who can really pull off an accent is Claire Danes. Her British accent in The Essex Serpent is absolutely flawless.
Meryl’s Australian accent was abysmal. I think at the time the accent thing was more fable than reality because no one bothered much with accents. Oh wow! She does accents! There are a lot of Australian actors that no one knows are Australian because their American accents are so good. Kidman was never that good with her accent. But no where near as bad as Bendy’s American accent. That’s nails down chalkboard.
Agreed. I thought she sounded quite good in the trailer.
Nicole Kidman is not a really great actress. She’s a really great star, that’s it. She has fame, wealth and power and she can pick her roles. Her acting ability is not impressive, and she’s terrible at accents. Her real-life accent at this point is best described as non-descript. and she doesn’t make much effort to conceal it for roles.
The names not being authorized isn’t a great sign to me even if it could mean many things.
She’s beautiful but just Ana in blonde.
I’m not looking forward to more portrayals of how fragile and damaged and “unhinged” she was. That’s the only way she’s ever portrayed and it does her intellect and character a disservice.
@C – agreed, every word!
I agree as well. Listen to her in her own words on tape–just like Lady Di–and you hear how smart she was and how she knew what was happening to her, and how a system was being used against her to keep her in line. The parallels are too similar. Time to change the narrative from “hysterical” women to women who refused to play by your patriarchal, sexist, misogynistic rules and paid the ultimate price for it.
In the book, they don’t use anyone’s names either.
Yeah, and the way they work around it is interesting, but still.
This.
Marilyn was extremely intelligent and I would love to see her portrayed as the intellectual she was .
The movie looks okay- I can’t even hear the accent but I really hope it gets into the meat of who she was as a person.
Exactly! The biggest difference for me is that Anna oozes self confidence and a bit of arrogance – no blame here, it’s part of her charm – and has nothing to do with Marilyn’s vulnerability. Maybe that’s why t he similarity works somehow in the pictures and not at all in the trailer.
First, Joyce Carol Oates is a horrible human being, and it’s a shame she writes good books. I used to work for Arthur Miller’s daughter and yeah…I don’t see her authorizing this on her father’s behalf. The accent is…hmm.
@JD – I didn’t know that about Oates. How is she terrible?
Is she really? I didn’t know that. We Were The Mulvaneys is one of my all time favorite books.
@Becks1 yeah, Joyce Carol Oates has basically turned into a right-wing troll on Twitter—her latest controversy is her claiming that white male authors can’t get books published anymore.
I love it too !
My JCO favorite is Broke Heart Blues.
@InTheLoop — I don’t follow JCO, but she may have a point about white male authors (don’t know the context of the statement). My cousin is a moderately successful novelist and both his publisher and agent tell him that their priority now is developing new authors that are people of color.
Dammit, I love JCO’s books. Now I’m depressed.
You mean you worked for writer and director Rebecca Miller?????!!!!
What was that like?
Yes, please share! Did Daniel Day Lewis ever stop by and grace everyone with his presence? That is acting/playwright royalty right there.
Ugh, that’s depressing. She’s been a favorite of mine since I read “Where are You Going, Where Have You Been?” in a short story anthology in 10th grade English class. Sorry to hear that she’s leaning into hate.
This actually looks pretty great, and the whole cast is filled with phenomenal actors.
Jeff Bridges recently talked about the actor who played the younger version of his character in The Old Man, and said it’s not important that he imitate me, just that he feels like me. I think that’s true here too — she doesn’t have to be exactly Marilyn, just feel like her.
I’m with you, Kristen. I’m pretty sold on this. I think I can get past the accent in a longer film, but she’s really nailed the physical presence. I’m intrigued and I’d like to watch more!
She seems to look like Marilyn and have her mannerisms,and the casting is good: I hope she can pull some nominations.
I think she does pull off Marilyn. I don’t mind the accent because I don’t hear it.
I will watch the movie! Loved the book.
Agreed – I didn’t hear much of any accent. Only in maybe a word or two. And I’m first generation American from Cuban parents. I know that fucking accent. Couldn’t hear it here. Also I’m not a huge Ana de Armas Stan – like hope for the best but to me shes just like another up and coming actress in Hollywood.
Take the Cannavale leave the de Armas. I adore Bobby so talented
I’m a fan of Cannavale, too. His performance in The Station Agent is takes-my-breath-away good.
Yes! Such a phenomenal movie all around and such an overlooked gem. It’s where Peter Dinklage first came to my attention too (saw it because I loved Cannavale in Third Watch, so followed him from there…did you see his turn in Oz, so creepy)
I actually dig the trailer: she’s pulling off the physicality of Marilyn well. I get that people have issues with the accent work, but given the number of British actors who can’t pull off American accents for the life of them and yet I’m supposed to take seriously (Benedict Cumberbatch I’m looking at you lol) or the awful “Russian” accents we hear so often, I’m willing to cut her some slack.
I actually like what Ana is giving here. The cast is stellar and the story is compelling.
The trailer is amazing, I can’t wait to see the movie!
*DiMaggio
She looks great, but her accent is super noticeable. People already freak out when an actor in a biopic hasn’t been swaddled in layers of prosthetics to perfectly replicate their subject; then add to that the borderline unhinged obsession a lot of people have with Marilyn… I’m just hoping that Ana isn’t subjected to hateful right-wing vitriol because of her accent.
I almost feel it’s unfair of the production to do that to her, I mean I’m sure she was thrilled to play such an iconic role, but at the same time I just know the dIsCoUrSe about Cuban Marilyn is going to be unbearable.
Yeah some nutcases are already complaining about that:a Latina playing Marylin🙄 It’s just called acting. You can hear her accent but that doesn’t bother me and I hope it doesn’t bother Oscar voters cause I think that’s the end goal. It’s the story that I don’t like and the NC 17…I would hope one day Hwood would portray Marilyn in another light(smart,an activist…) not just this oversexualized depressed person.
I’m not terribly familiar with Marilyn Monroe as an actor, I know more about her tragic life than her career. I know she’s an American icon but I’ve never watched any of her movies (someday!). Physically Ana definitely looks the part but her Cuban accent is distracting to me.
You can’t get more American than Marilyn and Ana is a great actor, but there really weren’t any American female actors who could fill this role? I wouldn’t even care if the role was played by a non-white actor if they decided to go down the non-historical/fictionalized route a la Hamilton (I don’t know how Ana identifies, she is Cuban but a quick search shows a high percentage of Cubans consider themselves white so please correct me if Ana is considered a POC actor). I know the movie is a fictionalized take on her life but I dunno, the accent takes me out of the story in the trailer. Maybe not a great example because he’s a fictional character but it’s like watching James Bond with an American accent–it’s so weird.
Jessica Chastain was attached to the project,and also Scarlet(but I am not sure) but they gave up..maybe it was a conflict of scheduling or disagreement with director who has a reputation.
Ana is Latina so POC(I think her parents are both from Spain).
Ana is not a POC. She’s a white Latina. Not every Latino is POC. There are millions and millions of 100% white European descent Latinos, and Ana is one of them.
@Marisol,as an afro latina, I totally agree with you . I know the difference between race and ethnicity but it seems in White America,ppl see all latina as WOC so Ana is seen as a WOC even though she is Spanish so 100% white.
I don’t know how much of an actor Britney Spears is, but man does she physically resemble Marilyn. I could see Jessica Chastain or Scarlet Johansen in that role very easily.
They’re actually related in someway .. distant relatives
At the very least you should see Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (pink gown, Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend). She’s so funny in that! Also The Seven Year Itch (white dress over subway grate scene). Very funny in that one as well. Then there’s How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like it Hot. Light fun stuff, but Marilyn is terrific in each one. Monkey Business was ridiculous, but it does contain a killer dance routine by Ginger Rogers that’s worth watching.
When it comes to playing these great and complex icons, impression matters more than perfect imitation. I’ve never seen an actress whose real accent didn’t come out while playing Marilyn. It’s just that people are more likely to comment on Ana’s Cuban accent than Ashley Judd’s Southern accent or any other English regional accent. 🤷🏼♀️ I’m impressed that she’s captured Marilyn’s (and Norma Jean’s!) physicality and mannerisms so well.
But what really defined Marilyn/Norma Jean was her empathy, emotional intelligence, and chemistry with others. That’ll be what makes or breaks her performance for me — especially chemistry with Brody’s Arthur Miller. He was the great love of her life and the one who connected with her intellectual passion, and it’s the hardest relationship dynamic to get right. She could be using a full Cuban accent and I’d still be thrilled if they capture that..
Adrien Brody and Bobby Cannavale are always brilliant. Truly stellar casting.
I would say DiMaggio was the love of her life. They were close until her death and he left flowers at her grave until he died. I also think he knew who she really was where Miller was in love with “Marilyn”.
I’ll watch anything about Marilyn good or bad! I thought Mira Sarvino played her best thus far.
Also, watch Niagara!!
Fantastic trailer! She looks like she’s really nailing it and I didn’t notice her accent at all.
I think Ana is a wonderful actress and seems to nail the look/mannerisms of Marilyn well. But accent work isn’t for all actors (even some really incredible actors!), and her Cuban accent is very strong. I hear it really clearly in that trailer and it’s distracting, unfortunately.
Totally agree. I’ll watch it because it looks so beautifully shot and the cast is so talented, the story so fascinating, etc. But an actor’s inability to nail an accent will always trump other qualities – just like slightly-off notes will ruin an otherwise excellent musical performance. My tolerance is low and my sensitivity is high!
It seems her accent didn’t do well with screenings.That’s what the director said:’’
Cuban actress Ana de Armas said in interviews she spent nine months trying to perfect the voice and American accent of Marilyn Monroe. When the film was shown at test screenings in 2021, the audience complained about her accent still sounding Cuban. Director Andrew Dominik told Screen Daily in February 2022 that there was “work involved” in post-production in making the actress “sound American”.
I mean ,again,it’s fictionalized,why her accent is important ?
The tag on the Netflix poster is literally this: “Ana de Armas IS Marilyn Monroe”
I don’t hear her accent. She looks amazing!
I think the trailer looks interesting enough that I might want to watch it. And this isn’t normally my cup of tea. I avoided “Judy” despite thinking Renee Z is a very good actress and despite the good reviews for her performance. I also didn’t watch “My Week With Marilyn.” But this has a strong overall cast and Ana seems to be getting it quite well.
I can look past the accent so long as the rest of her performance is good. I’ve listened to so many British and Australian actresses play Americans, including Southern ones or others with distinct regional accents. I always hear the accent peaking through a little so it doesn’t really matter to me if it does here too.
The reason you don’t recognize all the names is that “Blonde” is a fictionalized accounting
I mean if it’s fictionalized,why is her accent important 🤷♀️? I would understand if it was autobiographical but if it’s not….and if it’s too distracting for some,can it be dubbed?If she had a great performance,it would be a shame that ppl are distracted by her accent
I am a diehard Marilyn Monroe fan. She was so talented and far smarter than many give her credit for. I really wasn’t familiar with Ana de Armas beyond the posts she was featured in here and I was not really looking forward to this movie until I saw the trailer. She really gets the look and the feel down. Her accent isn’t distracting for me here at all, it’s more the breathy movie speak that doesn’t fit. MM spoke that way movies or in character but she didn’t sound like that irl. That could end up being far more of a distraction for me than any accent. It surprises me but I am now looking forward to seeing this. Bobby Canavale and Adrian Brody are well cast and so talented too.