Marilyn Monroe was so much more than a 'blonde bombshell'. Beneath the iconic image was a master of comedy with surprising dramatic depth. Her true legacy is her incredible range, a quality shared by a select few actors today who also defy easy labels.
Scarlett Johansson
Scarlett Johansson built a career navigating the very same terrain as Monroe: the tension between being a global superstar and a serious actor. For years, she was a blockbuster fixture as Black Widow in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, a role requiring action-hero stoicism. But her real range shines in quieter films. In 'Lost in Translation', she captured a profound sense of lonely vulnerability, and in 'Marriage Story', she delivered a raw, Oscar-nominated performance of a woman grappling with divorce. Like Monroe, who studied at the Actors Studio to deepen her craft, Johansson has consistently sought roles that challenge audience perceptions, balancing art-house credibility with commercial stardom.
Margot Robbie
Margot Robbie’s career feels like a direct conversation with Monroe's legacy. She exploded onto the scene in 'The Wolf of Wall Street' as the quintessential bombshell, a role that could have typecast her forever. Instead, she pivoted, using her own production company to create complex, often subversive roles. Her transformative, Oscar-nominated performance as Tonya Harding in 'I, Tonya' showed gritty determination and tragedy, a world away from her glamorous image. And in 'Barbie', she explored the existential angst of a character famous only for her looks, subverting the 'dumb blonde' trope in a way Monroe herself did in films like 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'.
Charlize Theron
Few actors have weaponized and then dismantled their own image as effectively as Charlize Theron. For her Oscar-winning role as serial killer Aileen Wuornos in 'Monster', she underwent a stunning physical and psychological transformation that rendered her unrecognizable. Yet she is equally convincing as an action hero in 'Mad Max: Fury Road' or a glamorous spy. Her range extends deeply into comedy, from the biting satire of 'Young Adult' to her portrayal of an overwhelmed mother in 'Tully', a role for which she also gained significant weight. Theron's career is a masterclass in versatility, proving that, like Monroe, she can embody any genre she chooses.
Amy Adams
Amy Adams possesses a unique ability to project sunny optimism while hinting at a deep well of melancholy, a duality central to Monroe's appeal. She can be a wide eyed, fairy tale princess in 'Enchanted' or a sharp, seductive con artist in 'American Hustle', earning a Golden Globe for the latter. Her genius lies in the complexity she brings to even her most charming characters. In films like 'Junebug' and the sci fi drama 'Arrival', she grounds the story with a quiet, profound humanity. Adams, like Monroe, can switch from dazzling comedic timing to heartbreaking vulnerability in an instant, often within the same role.
Michelle Williams
Having earned an Oscar nomination for playing Monroe herself in 'My Week with Marilyn', Michelle Williams understands the icon's duality intimately. She captured Monroe’s breathy vulnerability and the sharp intelligence that lay just beneath. But her broader career showcases a similar, fearless range. Williams moves effortlessly between devastating indie dramas like 'Manchester by the Sea' and bold, physical performances in musicals like 'The Greatest Showman' or the TV series 'Fosse/Verdon'. She consistently disappears into her roles, embodying a fragility and strength that feels deeply reminiscent of Monroe’s most powerful dramatic work in films like 'The Misfits'.
Ana de Armas
Ana de Armas faced the monumental task of portraying Monroe in 'Blonde', earning an Academy Award nomination for her immersive performance. Before that, she was known for scene stealing turns in action films like 'No Time to Die' and as a holographic AI in 'Blade Runner 2049'. Her breakout role in 'Knives Out' demonstrated her incredible ability to be the film's moral and comedic center, a performance that hinged on both vulnerability and sharp timing. De Armas has actively fought against being typecast, seeking out roles that challenge expectations—a struggle Monroe knew all too well.
