Ana De Armas Is Unrecognizable as Marilyn Monroe in the First “Blonde” Trailer

Actor Ana De Armas is set to lead the highly anticipated Netflix original film, Blonde. The first-of-its-kind film was written and directed by Andrew Dominik. The film is based off Joyce Carol Oates best-selling novel originally titled Blonde. Netflix released a chilling glimpse of the film’s official trailer on June 16 featuring the brunette as an undeniably accurate, Marilyn Monroe. “Every scene is inspired by an existing photograph,” De Armas told the Netflix Queue. As many of Monroe’s iconic Hollywood portraits go, the trailer features De Armas in black and white film looking like — as Monroe apparently would’ve said — a “pillow-case white” blonde.

In the trailer, Monroe’s signature red lip, faint black beauty mark, and prolific platinum-blonde curls are reflected in a mirror as she looks at herself with her hands interlocked. “She’s coming,” a voice echoes in the distance. As she sobs with despair, we can see the agony of the beloved icon.

Each of the 47 consecutive filming days began bright and early with up to three hours of hair and makeup, De Armas confirmed to the Netflix Queue. Dominik’s adaptation of the late Monroe is set to feature some of her most notable performances throughout her career, according to Netflix. For example, in the trailer, you’ll see De Armas with shoulder-length Hollywood waves parted to one side of her face as she reenacts Monroe’s iconic “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” performance in Howard Hawks’s musical Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. 

The trailer gives us a peek at Monroe’s on-stage and private personas throughout her life. The film, set to premiere on Netflix on September 23, reveals the intimate details behind the secret life of Monroe, brought to life by De Armas.

Watch the full trailer for Blonde below: