Ana de Armas is the latest to land an Oscar nomination for playing Marilyn Monroe.
Why did the Academy overlook the woman herself?
Marilyn Monroedesperately wanted to be taken seriously as an actress.
The real Marilyn Monroe and Ana de Armas in ‘Blonde.'.Everett Collection; Netflix
Instead, actresses get taken seriously for playing Marilyn Monroe.
On Tuesday morning,Ana de Armasbecame the latest actress to garner awards recognition for her portrayal of Monroe.
But no one should’ve bet against Norma Jean.
Michelle Williams in ‘My Week With Marilyn.'.LAURENCE CENDROWICZ/TWC
But neither Hollywood nor the world, for that matter, was ready to see Monroe that way.
But it’s hard not to see it as a continuation of the exploitation she endured throughout her career.
In many ways, they still can’t.
Marilyn Monroe with Jane Russell in ‘Gentleman Prefer Blondes.'.Bettmann
Our evaluation of how well an actor embodies Monroe is, first and foremost, surface level.
But beyond even that physical assessment, there’s a more troubling parallel.
It’s true that Monroe was troubled, of course.
Marilyn Monroe and Tony Curtis in ‘Some Like it Hot.'.Richard C. Miller/Donaldson Collection/Getty
What would truly be brave would be finding a way to transcend those stereotypes.
It’s easier and probably more dramatically compelling to sell the narrative of Monroe’s frailty.
Alas, such respect seems reserved solely for her alter egos.
Marilyn Monroe reading Earl Wilson’s travel book ‘Look Who’s Abroad Now’ in 1953.Everett
Playing Marilyn Monroe was the greatest performance of Norma Jean Baker’s career.
