The iconic diva of Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe, is still revered as a dream girl even after 60 years of her death. As Shakespeare rightly puts in his Sonnet 18, “So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long lives this, and this gives life to thee.” Monroe is immortalized through countless adaptations in cinema. She had high-profile relationships with ex-husbands Joe DiMaggio, Arthur Miller, and was rumored to have an affair with John F. Kennedy. The rumor was blasting because of the infamous sensuous performance ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President‘ by Monroe. Unfortunately, the diva’s life ended due to an overdose of sleeping pills. Her death was ruled a possible suicide.
When the internet seemed to calm down on the recent drama of Kim Kardashian wearing Monroe’s iconic nude gown to the 2022 Met Gala, Netflix dropped the trailer for the upcoming film ‘Blonde’. The biopic is based on the novel written by Joyce Carol Oates, starring Ana de Armas. The star is a spitting image of Monroe in a classic platinum updo. Over the years, Hollywood has produced numerous adaptations of the starlet Monroe. Let us go down memory lane to list the 10 actresses who played the ‘blonde bombshell’ on screen, who was given the name Norma Jean Baker at birth.
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1) Misty Rowe
Misty Rowe is one of the first to portray Monroe in films. She may be better remembered for her 19-year stint on the country variety show ‘Hee Haw‘. The 1976 film, ‘Goodbye, Norma Jean’ is one of the first ones to have portrayed the diva. Rowe played the role of Norma Jean Baker, portraying Monroe’s early life before stardom. Rowe later reprised the role in 1989’s ‘Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn‘.
2) Paula Lane
Lane starred as Monroe in the 1989 movie ‘Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn’. The film was a follow-up to the 1976 film ‘Goodbye, Norma Jean‘. This sequel takes the form of a retrospective murder plot told by Marilyn’s killer (Jeremy Slate) between flashbacks to the previous film.
3) Catherine Hicks
Catherine Hicks played Monroe in ‘Marilyn: The Untold Story‘ in 1980. One of the better-received films about the icon’s life, although it stands as a TV movie. The movie covered Monroe’s tumultuous upbringing and controversial marriage with Joe DiMaggio and then the playwright Arthur Miller.
4) Theresa Russell
Theresa Russell portrayed Marilyn with the most confidence in the 1985 British film, ‘Insignificance‘. The film revolved around four characters representing Marilyn Monroe, Joseph McCarthy, Joe DiMaggio, and Albert Einstein, respectively. They contemplate the errors of the human race and the future of mankind.
5) Mira Sorvino
The Oscar winner Mira Sorvino portrayed Monroe in the HBO original movie, ‘Norma Jean and Marilyn‘. In it, Sorvino’s Marilyn navigates dreamlike sequences opposite herself before her stardom.
Read More: Kim Kardashian Finally Breaks Silence On Accusations Of “Ruining” Marilyn Monroe’s Dress
6) Ashley Judd
Ashley Judd portrayed the role of Norma Jean Baker. She played Marilyn before she found fame in the 1996 HBO original movie ‘Norma Jean and Marilyn’.
7) Poppy Montgomery
Poppy Montgomery, the Australian actress starred in the 2001 miniseries ‘Blonde‘ as Marilyn. Many thought that this was one of the sympathetic portrayals of Marilyn Monroe as she struggled through her projected image and her true self.
8) Charlotte Sullivan
Charlotte Sullivan played Monroe in the miniseries ‘The Kennedys’. She appeared in one episode and performed the infamous ‘Happy Birthday, Mr. President‘ to President Kennedy on his 45th birthday.
9) Michelle Williams
Michelle Williams’ portrayal of Monroe in ‘My Week With Marilyn’ in 2011, won her a Golden Globe award and a nomination for Oscar. The film starred another Oscar winner, Eddie Redmayne.
10) Uma Thurman
Uma Thurman in NBC’s ‘Smash’ was convinced to take on her first 5 episodes TV arc as Marilyn Monroe, in the Broadway musical. She admitted that it was not easy to play as Marilyn Monroe. She added that Monroe is just a “magical character”. ‘Smash‘ also stars Debra Messing, Angelica Huston, and Katharine McPhee.
It’s Time For Ana de Armas As Marilyn Monroe In ‘Blonde’
The praise for Michelle might totally be abrogated by Armas through her portrayal of Marilyn Monroe. The recent photos that were released show that Ana de Armas might just be the perfect replication of Monroe. She is starring in the film ‘Blonde‘, which is scheduled to be released on ‘Netflix‘. She had to prepare for a year to act and perfect this role. She told EW, that it was ‘torture’.
Read More: ‘Blonde’: Everything You Need To Know About Netflix’s X-Rated Marilyn Monroe Movie
