Blonde star Ana de Armas says movie wasn’t made for pleasure

Blonde was one of the most talked-about movies of last year, but almost exclusively through a negative lens. While overseas it fared quite well–even vying for the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival–once American viewers got wind of the content, it would be a bumpy ride for the Netflix movie.

But star Ana de Armas, who played Marilyn Monroe (and exponentially better than anyone else has attempted), knew it wouldn’t be for everyone, telling The Hollywood Reporter, “As hard as it is to hear when people don’t like your film, it is what it is. It was not a movie that was made to please people or to make people like it. It is a hard movie to watch.” Director Andrew Dominik previously spoke about Blonde’s reception, saying he was surprised at just how angry and upset American viewers were over the movie.

Ana de Armas also has a theory as to why Blonde was received so poorly, saying that the movie held up a mirror to the viewer, leaving a bad impression on them. “I don’t think the movie speaks badly about [Monroe] a bit. I think it’s the opposite. I think it speaks badly about the environment and the industry, and that’s a hard pill to swallow sometimes for other people in the business. I feel like the movie also makes the audience feel like participants. We contributed at the time, and we still contribute, in the exploitation of actors…I feel like it’s possible that some people have felt like [someone] pointed a finger at [them].”

Blonde was smacked with controversy and criticism ahead of its September Netflix debut, including over the movie’s casting, depictions of abortion and even Dominik’s insistence that one of Monroe’s most famous films, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, “romanticized whoredom.”

Blonde seemed like an easy target for the Razzies–and it was, racking up eight nods–but its surprise Oscar nomination for Best Actress could possibly get people to revisit it in the future, perhaps with a different perspective. Or maybe the talking fetus will forever freak them out…

What did you think of Blonde? Did it appeal to you? Do you think it will develop more of a following as years pass? Let us know!