Ana de Armas believes she still needs to 'prove herself' after her 'Blonde' Oscar nomination: 'Some doubt it was deserved'

During the initial stages of Andrew Dominiks film Blonde, Ana de Armas faced skepticism regarding her casting as Marilyn Monroe. Speaking at the Red Sea Film Festival, she revealed that not everyone involved in the project supported the decision. She said, Im not going to say who, but not everyone was supportive of my casting.

De Armas explained, A Cuban playing Marilyn Monroe is unusual. I had a week to prepare on my own, and my accent was a challenge. In the end, we convinced the producers I was the right choice. Andrew had been casting this movie for 10 years, and he wouldnt do it with anyone else. It was terrifying but rewardinga beautiful kind of torture.

Despite her Oscar nomination, de Armas noted that the recognition didnt immediately affect the roles offered to her. Some people feel it was a fluke, she said. Theres still this sense that I have to prove myself again. She emphasized that while large-scale action projects like From the World of John Wick: Ballerina are enjoyable, they dont define her full range as an actress.

Speaking about her Oscar campaign for Blonde, de Armas expressed disappointment that the films wider team did not receive recognition. I wasnt the only remarkable part of the movie. Andrew, the hair and makeup teams, and many others deserved acknowledgment. It felt lonely representing the film amidst the controversy and challenging discussions, but I cherished the experienceit might be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

De Armas described how she transitioned between roles after filming Blonde. Due to Daniel Craigs injury during No Time to Die, she had to start the Bond shoot immediately after finishing Dominiks biopic. I had 48 hours to say goodbye to Marilyn and start a new character. If you watch Paloma, you can see a hint of Marilyn in her, which made her even more special, she recalled.

Reflecting on her role in No Time to Die, de Armas called it life-changing. She shared how director Cary Joji Fukunaga reached out before a script was even finalized. I love Carys work, Daniel Craig, and the Bond franchise. Representing a Cuban agent in the film was bigger than anything else. Those 15 minutes on screen were impactful. The audiences response was incredible, especially when the character said goodbye and gave Craig a cigarit was unforgettable.

Regarding support from her home country, de Armas said Cuba has always been encouraging. Everyone is proud and loving. People ask for selfies, but they also genuinely thank you. Its a beautiful feeling I never take for granted.

Author: Olivia Parker