Marilyn Monroe's estate defends Ana de Armas' portrayal

The Marilyn Monroe estate is defending Ana de Armas' portrayal of the late film star in the upcoming movie "Blonde," following online snipes maintaining the Cuban actor betrays a Spanish accent in the recently released trailer for the fictionalized biography.

"Marilyn Monroe is a singular Hollywood and pop culture icon that transcends generations and history," said Marc Rosen, entertainment president of Authentic Brands Group, in a statement to Newsday. The company, which was not involved with "Blonde," represents and markets dozens of brands, as well as the estates of Monroe, Elvis Presley, Muhammad Ali and others. "Any actor that steps into that role knows they have big shoes to fill," he continued. "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!"

"For us at the Marilyn Monroe estate, it's thrilling to see all of the different portrayals of her by celebrities and actors from Kim Kardashian to Michelle Williams and now Ana De Armas," added ABG president Nick Woodhouse. "There are no rules when it comes to how an artist can honor her legacy. We embrace new interpretations of Marilyn that pay homage to her iconic star power, beauty and humanity, and bring her into relevant cultural conversations."

"Deep Water" and "Knives Out" star de Armas, 34, who played Bond girl Paloma in last year's 007 film "No Time to Die," has not commented publicly.

Some criticism had arisen after the trailer's release Thursday. "Ana de Armas looks stunning and the scenes gives me chills but i know y'all still hear her accent," tweeted one commenter. "Like it's STRONG. i am very surprised they thought she sounded like marilyn because she literally doesn't." Another person posted, "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."

Others noted such criticism is subjective, and that many hear no accent in de Armas' voice, which does replicate Monroe's trademark breathy speech. "I think many of you see her name, know she is culturally Spanish … and your mind hears a ‘latin' accent that the rest of us … simply do not hear," one person tweeted.

De Armas told the London newspaper The Times in January 2021 that she had had "nine months of dialect coaching, and practicing, and some ADR sessions," referring to automated dialogue replacement, the standard practice of rerecording dialogue for clarity and other reasons in an audio studio. "It was a big torture, so exhausting. My brain was fried," she said.

"Blonde," based on Joyce Carol Oates' novel speculating on the inner life of Monroe, stars de Armas as "Norma Jeane," the late star's given name, and fictionalizes her two husbands, Arthur Miller and Joe DiMaggio, as simply The Playwright (played by Adrien Brody) and The Ex-Athlete (Bobby Cannavale). After its scheduled world premiere at the Venice International Film Festival, followed by its French premiere at the Deauville American Film Festival, it will begin streaming on Netflix Sept. 28.

Monroe, the legendary star of film classics including "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953), "The Seven Year Itch" (1955) and "Some Like It Hot" (1959), was found dead nearly 60 years ago this week, on Aug. 5, 1962, of a barbiturate overdose. She was 36 years old.