Ana de Armas started nailing Marilyn Monroe’s voice way back on ‘Knives Out’

The new Blonde movie starring Ana de Armas as the legendary performer is finally streaming on Netflix, and the critics are mixed. While some are calling it a haunting take on a traumatic story, others feel it’s icky and exploitative. Yet others are wondering why a female director didn’t tackle this story instead of Andrew Dominik. 

Still, there seems to be one thing most people agree on: Ana de Armas is transcending as Marilyn Monroe. In every scene she nails the performer’s mannerisms and looks, an accomplishment that, according to her, took a lot of work.

“I started working on the voice when I was filming Knives Out,” she revealed on a Critics Choice Association press conference, adding the timeframe was about nine months before they began filming Blonde.

A complex transformation

“It was probably the most complex part of the transformation for me, just because English is not my first language to begin with,” she continued. “She also changed her accent many times and she had personal coaches for her own insecurities. Then she had coaches for movies. You can see her accent changing from one movie to the [next].”

Not that nailing Monroe’s iconic looks was much easier. Armas reveals some of the hair and makeup took up to three hours to achieve and there were mornings she was in that chair at 4:30 a.m. sleeping while they went to work on her.

“It was very challenging every day but it was beautiful,” she said. “And it was so emotional every time.”

Building iconic looks

Another important part of that transition from de Armas to Monroe was wardrobe. The actor reveals the team — led by costume designer Jennifer Johnson — worked together to build up the looks, sourcing -- and in some cases, making -- the iconic fashion Monroe is so known for.

As a result, many of her famous dresses – like the pink one from Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend and the flowy white one from The Seven Year Itch — are in the film.  

“I don’t think I’ve ever had more wardrobe fittings than in this movie, we do like over 100 wardrobe changes in the film,” Armas said. “It wasn’t like Jennifer gave me these clothes on a hanger and you’re putting it on just because it was the exact replica of what she was wearing. We built it together so it felt more natural to me.”

The actor explained they would use tricks here and there to find the shape of Monroe’s body within those looks. “At the end of the day they really created that illusion of her body,” she added.   

Blonde is now available to stream on Netflix.