Things Ana de Armas Couldn’t Explain While Playing Marilyn Monroe—Even the Director Was Shaken
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
When Ana de Armas took on the daunting role of Marilyn Monroe in the 2022 film Blonde, she wasn’t just acting—she felt as though she was channeling the very spirit of the legendary star.
In a revealing interview with AnOther Magazine, de Armas described the filming experience as emotionally overwhelming and at times eerie. She recounted moments on set when objects mysteriously moved without explanation. “I truly believe that she was very close to us,” de Armas said, suggesting that Monroe’s presence was more than symbolic—it was palpable, as if the Hollywood icon herself was silently watching, approving, or perhaps curious.
Before production began, the cast and crew paid a solemn visit to Monroe’s grave at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles. There, they left a handwritten card asking for Monroe’s “permission” to tell her story—an act underscoring the deep reverence they held for the actress and the emotional gravity of the project.
De Armas admitted, “The weight of it stayed with me for sure. There was no way to unplug.” She often dreamt of Monroe during filming, describing a consuming emotional toll that lingered well beyond the camera’s stop.
Director Andrew Dominik echoed these sentiments, describing the atmosphere on set as reminiscent of a séance. The choice to film in locations intimately connected to Monroe’s real life—including her mother’s apartment and the very room where she died—intensified the somber and surreal mood throughout the shoot.
Blonde, adapted from Joyce Carol Oates’s novel, premiered to a 14-minute standing ovation at the 79th Venice International Film Festival in September 2022. Released on Netflix later that month, it sparked conversation for its daring and deeply personal portrayal of Monroe’s tragic life.
Whether one believes in spirits or not, Ana de Armas’s performance was undeniably infused with extraordinary emotional depth—guided, she believes, by the lingering presence of Marilyn Monroe herself. “She was all I thought about,” de Armas reflected. “She was everywhere.”
