Why Ana De Armas Believes Marilyn Monroe's Ghost Haunted Her

Biopics – films that chronicle the life of a former public figure – frequently see success both at the box office and with critics (per Screenrant). In 2020, Renée Zellweger won best actress at the Academy Awards for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the film "Judy." The story of broker Jordan Belfort is told in the film "The Wolf of Wall Street," which is Martin Scorsese's highest grossing film. Embodying a character is one thing, but embodying a person who actually existed (or still exists) brings unique challenges, as the general public may already have an idea of that person's voice and personality.

Creating a biopic can involve tirelessly studying the person whom the actor of actress is portraying. For example, in the 2022 biopic "Elvis," Austin Butler (per GQ) began reading, listening, and watching as much Elvis Presley content as possible upon landing the film's titular role. However, when Ana de Armas took on the role of Marilyn Monroe in "Blonde," it's said that some outside forces came into play.

Marilyn Monroe was a trailblazer for women in Hollywood. Aside from appearing on the cover of the first ever issue of "Playboy" magazine (per Biography), she went toe-to-toe with Twentieth Century Fox studio executives when she negotiated for more control over the film roles that she accepted (per History of Yesterday). Her face still graces merchandise from T-shirts to home decorations.

It's been 60 years since Monroe's death, and with the anniversary comes the release of Netflix's fictionalized biopic "Blonde." (The trailer is on YouTube.) Ana de Armas plays the role of Monroe. De Armas says that she felt the presence of Monroe in a supernatural way during filming. Monroe's ghost seemingly made her presence known to everyone on set. Reuters reported that de Armas explained, "I think she was happy. She would also throw things off the wall sometimes and get mad if she didn't like something ... We all felt it." Perhaps what brought out the spirit of Monroe was the fact that the crew filmed scenes for "Blonde" in the actual room wherein Monroe died in 1962. 

The director of "Blonde," Andrew Dominik, echoed the feelings of de Armas. "It definitely took on elements of being like a seance," Dominik stated (per Reuters). Dominik's choice of de Armas for the lead role in the film came as a shock to the public and to de Armas herself because she is Cuban. English is her second language, and she normally speaks with a distinct accent. As a result, she trained extensively with a vocal coach, according to the Los Angeles Times. 

Production of "Blonde" was not the first time that someone felt the presence of Marilyn Monroe from beyond the grave. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles tour guide Scott Michaels claims that Monroe is frequently the subject of supernatural experiences in the city. Fans once reported that they saw a pink mist around her plaque at Westwood Village Memorial Park and believed the mist to be her spirit. Another claim states that her ghost appeared on the Santa Monica Pier. Maybe such claims are testaments to the love that fans continue to have for the iconic star.