Ana de Armas
Why Her Accent Causes Controversy
Ana de Armas plays Marilyn Monroe in Netflix’s Blonde.
© 2022 Netflix
Is Ana de Armas miscast as Marilyn Monroe because of her Spanish accent? The executor jumps to her side.
The official estate administration of Marilyn Monroe (1926-1962), the Marilyn Monroe Estate, jumps to the side of the actress Ana de Armas (34). De Armas plays the late Hollywood icon in the upcoming Netflix drama Blonde and is currently facing massive criticism for her performance: In a first trailer the Spanish accent of the actress from Cuba is clearly audible. Monroe, on the other hand, was born in Los Angeles and was also known for her breathy, iconic voice, among other things.
“Marilyn Monroe is a unique Hollywood and pop culture icon that has transcended generations and history,” Marc Rosen explained to Variety magazine. Rosen is president of the entertainment division of Authentic Brands Group, which owns the Marilyn Monroe Estate. Every actress knows that they are stepping into big shoes when they play Monroe. However, the trailer shows that de Armas is “a great choice”. She captures Marilyn’s “glamour, humanity and vulnerability”. “We can’t wait to see the film in its entirety,” continued Rosen.
Ana de Armas practiced the Monroe accent for a year
In an interview with The Times Prior to the trailer’s release, de Armas revealed that she spent nearly a year working on her Monroe accent for “Blonde.” “It took me nine months of dialect coaching, practice and a few more sessions,” says the actress. It was a “big ordeal, so exhausting”: “My brain was broken.” The Netflix production “Blond” starts worldwide on September 28th.