Blonde: Ana De Armas talks about why the NC-17 rating is important to the Marilyn Monroe biopic

There has been a lot of hype built around the upcoming film, Blonde, which is to be a look into the tragic life of actress Marilyn Monroe. From the casting decision of Ana De Armas – who has shown to be a really good doppelganger, but some are struggling with hints of her accent still peeking through – to the NC-17 rating the film has received from the MPAA, many are curious about the film for numerous reasons.

Recently, Armas sat down with L’Officiel to discuss how the NC-17 rating shouldn’t be a stigma. Despite the film being available online for streaming, the rare rating usually indicates that no one under 17 years old is allowed in any fashion to view the movie in the theater, as opposed to an R rating where viewers under 17 can still attend with an adult present. Usually, such a rating is given if there is explicit sexual content presented.

Armas states, 

I didn’t understand why that happened. I can tell you a number of shows or movies that are way more explicit with a lot more sexual content than Blonde. But to tell this story, it is important to show all these moments in Marilyn’s life that made her end up the way that she did. It needed to be explained. Everyone [in the cast] knew we had to go to uncomfortable places. I wasn’t the only one.”

The context of the content that earned the rating is not yet known. However, Monroe soared to fame as a sex symbol and dealt with a lot of vices and darkness in her life, which would probably suggest the film may graphically depict some of her more vulnerable moments. Armas and the film’s director, Andrew Dominik, didn’t want to gloss over any element of her existence, no matter how uncomfortable it makes people. They wanted to stay true to her story and show her in her most raw state. 

Blonde also stars Adrien Brody, Sara Paxton, Garget Dillahunt, Bobby Cannavale, Julianne Nicholson, and Lucy DeVito. The film will open in a limited theatrical release on September 16 before hitting Netflix on September 28.

What do you think? Are you curious?