Marilyn Monroe was born on June 1, 1926, as Norma Jeane Mortensen in Los Angeles, California. She went on to live a brilliantly glamorous although short life before tragically dying from an overdose of barbiturates in the passing hours between August 4 and 5, 1962. She was aged 36 and has since remained timelessly captured as a feminine icon forever shrouded in adoration and mystery.
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The Tragic Beginning of Marilyn Monroe
With her mother intermittently admitted to an asylum and raised in twelve foster homes, Marilyn Monroe wouldn’t shine under the blinding spotlight until 1946 when she started modeling for photographers. Soon after, she went on to star in minor roles under Fox and Columbia before eventually starting to pick up pace as exposure to films showered her with fan mails. She propelled toward a studio-fostered image as a “blonde bombshell’ and became a symbol of the sexual revolution during the 1950s and ’60s era.
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However, the life and legacy of Monroe would go on to last a decade before her tragic passing and she has since then been deified to the status of an American goddess of beauty. Her talents as a rising comedian earned her more than $200 million during her run in Hollywood and she has remained one of the most influential, revolutionary, and magnetic forces of the 20th century.
Ana de Armas Praised For Blonde By The Monroe Estate
In the recently released trailer for the highly fictionalized adaptation of Marilyn Monroe’s life, Blonde directed by Andrew Dominik, Ana de Armas shines as the iconic star, participating in a tortured depiction of the actress’s exponential rise to fame and her equally sudden and tragic demise. Although Armas’s portrayal of Monroe in no way serves as a biopic, she has been sorely criticized by fans for the retention of her Spanish accent and for exploiting the legacy of the cultural icon.
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Although it becomes important to retain the authenticity of the treasured heroine in any form that serves as a retelling of her life’s story, however, fictionalized, there also comes a crucial juncture in the form of artistic liberation that has witnessed many instances such as Sean Connery using his dominating Scottish accent in his Russian role in The Hunt For Red October (1990). However, Marc Rosen, the President of the group that owns the Marilyn Monroe Estate, recently released a statement defending Ana de Armas’s role.
“Marilyn Monroe is a singular Hollywood and pop culture icon that transcends generations and history. Any actor that steps into that role knows they have big shoes to fill. Based on the trailer alone, it looks like Ana was a great casting choice as she captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity and vulnerability. We can’t wait to see the film in its entirety!”
Blonde premieres on Netflix on 23 September 2022.
Source: Variety
