Since the release of the trailer for "Blonde" - the movie based on the book by Joyce Carol Oates about Marilyn Monroe's journey to fame, directed by Andrew Dominik - people have had some complaints about the protagonist, actress Ana de Armas.
Some people didn't like De Armas' Spanish accent as he performs Marilyn's signature voice. Ana was born in Cuba and acted in Spain before moving to Hollywood.
Marc Rosen, president of Authentic Brands Group (ABG), which owns Monroe's estate, defended the actress. "Marilyn Monroe is a unique icon of Hollywood and pop culture that transcends generations and history," he said. "Based on the trailer alone, it looks like Ana was a great choice."
In an interview with the Times last year, the actress opened up about the challenge of perfecting Monroe's accent, saying it took nine months of dialect training.
Brad Pitt, whose production company is producing the film, also praised De Armas amid criticism of her accent. "She's phenomenal as Marilyn," Pitt told the New York Post. "It took 10 years of preparation. Only when we found Ana could we cross the finish line."
"Blonde" will be released by Netflix on September 28.
