Marilyn Monroe's estate responds to backlash over Ana de Armas' accent in new movie
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Marilyn Monroe's estate has responds to backlash over Ana de Armas' accent in the upcoming fictionalised movie about the late Hollywood icon.
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Based off a novel of the same name, Netflix's Blonde will reimagine the story of Monroe while also touching upon the tragic details of her life off screen.
With the adults-only film set to arrive this Friday (23 September), fans are eagerly awaiting to see Armas' portrayal of the blonde bombshell.
But one aspect that some people have been apprehensive about is her accent, as they feel the Cuban star didn't entirely capture Monroe's American twang.
"They rly made that whole a** Marilyn Monroe movie and didn’t hire Ana De Armas an accent coach," wrote one on Twitter after the trailer dropped.
Another said: "I'm so torn on this. I love Ana de Armas, but her accent really pulls me out of the trailer, which isn't entirely her fault.
"Just doesn't quite hit with me. I'll definitely be watching it, maybe it's better in full context."
Amid the backlash, Monroe's estate jumped in to defend the Knives Out actress, saying that she perfectly 'captures Marilyn’s glamour, humanity, and vulnerability'.
In an interview with Variety, Marc Rosen, president of entertainment at Authentic Brands Group, which owns the estate, said: "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!"
Back in 2020, the 34-year-old actor spoke to Vanity Fair about the casting process, describing how she was so excited to have landed the part.
She said: "I only had to audition for Marilyn once and 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. But I knew I could do it.
"Playing Marilyn was groundbreaking. A Cuban playing Marilyn Monroe. I wanted it so badly."
Armas appears alongside Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, and Julianne Nicholson in Blonde as it charts Marilyn's suffering from abuse, exploitation and drug addiction while dealing with the pressure of being most famous woman in the world.
In a recent press conference, Armas suggested Monroe 'approved' of what they were doing after sensing 'something in the air' while they were filming.
She said: "She was happy but she would also throw things off the walls at times and get mad when she didn't like something.
"Being in the same places that she was, filming in her house, it just felt there was a very strong sensation, there was something in the air.
"I think she was approving of what we were doing, maybe this sounds very mystical or something but I think it's true, we all felt it."
Blonde will release on Netflix on 23 September.
Featured Image Credit: Netflix/Pictorial Press Ltd/Alamy Stock Photo
Topics: TV and Film, Netflix
