Many actresses before her have taken on the responsibility of slipping into the perfectly coiffed bob and infamous white dress of the one and only Marilyn Monroe. But for 31-year-old Cuban-Spanish actress Ana de Armas, playing the iconic star in the upcoming Netflix movie Blonde is a particularly noteworthy experience. As a Cuban-Spanish actress who's been very vocal about the need for more Latinx representation in Hollywood, getting the part felt like a huge step forward, not only for her but for the entire Latinx community.
"I only had to audition for Marilyn once and [director Andrew Dominik] said, 'It's you,' but I had to audition for everyone else. The producers. The money people. I always have people I needed to convince," De Armas told Vanity Fair in her March cover story. "But I knew I could do it. Playing Marilyn was groundbreaking. A Cuban playing Marilyn Monroe. I wanted it so badly."
Thankfully, she blew them all away. Her Knives Out co-star Jamie Lee Curtis, whose father, Tony Curtis, starred with Monroe in the 1959 film Some Like It Hot, told Vanity Fair that she was stunned when De Armas showed her the screen tests. "I dropped to the floor," Curtis said. "I couldn't believe it. Ana was completely gone. She was Marilyn."
Blonde, which does not yet have a release date, will be a fictionalized take on the life of the legendary femme fatale based on the eponymous 2000 novel by Joyce Carol Oates. And, fun fact, now we know De Armas's dog, Elvis, will also star in Blonde as Mafia—AKA Maf—the dog that Frank Sinatra famously gave Monroe.
View this post on Instagram
But De Armas, of course, also connects with the Hollywood icon on a deeper level.
"You see that famous photo of her and she is smiling in the moment, but that's just a slice of what she was really going through at the time," De Armas said.
Indeed, Dominik told Collider in Dec. 2016 that Blonde would be a "film about the human condition." "It tells the story of how a childhood trauma shapes an adult who's split between a public and a private self," he said, noting that he believes it will be "one of the 10 best movies ever made."
"I have never worked more closely with a director than I worked with Andrew," De Armas told Vanity Fair. "Yes, I have had collaborative relationships, but to get phone calls at midnight because he has an idea and he can't sleep and all of a sudden you can't sleep for the same reason…"
View this post on Instagram
Meanwhile, in addition to Blonde's release on Netflix at some point in 2020, De Armas has an even bigger year ahead. She's playing the new Bond girl in No Time to Die, starring in the Netflix biopic Sergio, and playing opposite Ben Affleck in the upcoming erotic thriller Deep Water.
"She is remarkable," Curtis told Vanity Fair. "She's going to be like Sophia Loren, one of those rare crossover worldwide sensations."
Diana Bruk Diana is a senior editor who writes about sex and relationships, modern dating trends, and health and wellness.Read moreFiled UnderCelebrities • Entertainment • NewsRead This NextMeet Ana de Armas, the Latest Bond Girl
The upcoming Bond girl, 31-year-old Cuban actress Ana de Armas, is taking Hollywood by storm in 2020.January 23, 2020Ana de Armas on Being a Latina Bond Girl
New Bond Girl and proud Latina Ana de Armas says "you can tell there’s a shift going on" in Hollywood.February 7, 2020Ana de Armas Covers New "Vanity Fair"
In her cover story for <em>Vanity Fair</em>, Ana de Armas reveals details about being the new Bond girl.February 18, 202010 Things You Didn't Know about Justin Trudeau
Athlete, nerd, hopeless romantic, thespian. Yes, there’s a lot more to Canada’s Prime Minister than just politics.March 21, 2017Jon Hamm: The Best Life Interview
Jon Hamm, star of TV's Mad Men, reveals the secrets of manliness in a postmodern world.November 15, 2016Driving Tips Smart Men Know
Ten easy ways to be the safest driver on the road. April 3, 2017Men Who Set the Time: Cash Warren
The successful producer, entrepreneur and husband of Jessica Alba reveals how you, too, can live your best life.October 31, 2016Dr. Oz: The Best Life Interview
Mehmet Oz, M.D., asks the toughest question: Are you living or dying?October 23, 2016Dr. Oz's 15 Best Life Tips
October 23, 2016The One That Got Away
A single nutrient—omega-3 fatty acids—may have turned early humans into civilized man. Has stripping it from our diet given rise to cancer, diabetes, and other civilized diseases? Our correspondent investigates.February 23, 2017
