13 Photos Of Netflix’s Blonde Cast & Their Real-Life Counterparts

Andrew Dominik’s film Blonde — a fictional portrait of Marilyn Monroe’s life on Netflix — is the adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ novel of the same name.

Ana de Armas stars as Norma Jean (Monroe’s name before she adopted her famous moniker), the girl who becomes an enduring silver screen icon. Many critics consider de Armas’ transformation into Monroe as Oscar-worthy.

She spent nine months with a vocal coach to perfect Monroe’s breathy tone. Her transformation into the screen icon shocked Chris Evans, who couldn’t tell the difference between his Gray Man co-star and Monroe.

Monroe was married three times, but Blonde focuses on her second and third marriages. Bobby Cannavale portrays “The Ex-Athlete,” who is thought to be based on Monroe’s second husband, retired baseball player Joe DiMaggio.

Monroe met the shy former Yankees star in 1952 and they got married in 1954. Their marriage ended less than a year later reportedly as DiMaggio’s jealousy and alleged abuse of Monroe grew, especially after filming The Seven Year Itch’s subway grate scene.

Adrien Brody portrays The Playwright, whose real-life inspiration is Arthur Miller. Monroe reportedly knew she was going to marry Miller before they even started dating. They tied the knot in 1956.

Their marriage reportedly fell apart over the years due to fertility issues, Monroe’s mood swings, and their tumultuous collaboration on Miller’s movie The Misfits. They divorced in 1961.

Caspar Phillipson portrays The President, who is believed to be John F. Kennedy. He and Monroe allegedly had an affair in March 1962, months before she would sing “Happy Birthday Mr. President” to him at Madison Square Garden. Fun fact: Phillipson also played JFK in the movie Jackie.

Monroe passed away on Aug. 5, 1962, and Kennedy was shot in November the following year. By most accounts, the two only had a one-night stand, though some theorize Monroe’s intimate knowledge about the Kennedys would cost her her life.

Julianne Nicholson portrays Gladys Pearl Baker, Marilyn Monroe’s mother. Baker was unable to take care of Monroe, due to her mental health struggles and alcohol use disorder.

Baker, pictured here in 1926 holding an infant Marilyn, was visited by Monroe during her time in mental hospitals. After Monroe’s death, she was moved to a retirement home in Florida in the ’70s close to her other daughter, Berniece Baker Miracle. Gladys died in 1984.

Blonde is available to stream on Netflix.