Today marks the 50th anniversary of Marilyn Monroe’s death, and yet we still seem to be as obsessed with the timeless beauty as ever. Madonna and Blake Lively have both imitated Marilyn’s famous pink-clad look from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Nicole Kidman and Lindsay Lohan have posed as Marilyn for the cover of magazines. Meanwhile, movies like My Week With Marilyn and shows like Smash prove that our collective obsession with the iconic blonde bombshell shows no signs of dying any time soon. Here are our favourite actresses who’ve embodied the late and great Marilyn Monroe so far.
Michelle Williams – My Week With Marilyn
She didn’t win the Oscar for her role as the screen legend in My Week With Marilyn, but we really think Michelle Williams should have… even though she was up against Meryl Streep. From the way she mimicked Marilyn’s voice to her physical transformation from a pixie chic actress to a blonde sex symbol, we were blown away by her performance.
Blake Lively – Gossip Girl
It may have been a short dream sequence on the teen drama, but we still loved catching a glimpse of Blake Lively as Marilyn Monroe on Gossip Girl. Blake’s still young herself, but she’s becoming more and more of a beauty icon in her own right as the face of Gucci and as a spokesperson for Chanel. Only time will tell if she has Marilyn’s staying power.
Related Link: First Look: Blake Lively Stars In Gucci Movie
Katharine McPhee – Smash
Katharine McPhee stars as Karen Cartwright who stars as Marilyn in a TV series about a Broadway show about Marilyn. That was a mouthful! Smash may have had its ups and downs this year, but we love Katharine as the bombshell, even though we never pictured her as a blonde before the show.
Lindsay Lohan – New York Magazine cover
Lindsay Lohan recreated Marilyn Monroe’s famous last photo shoot, known as “The Last Sitting,” with the same photographer who took Marilyn’s photos, Ben Stern. Lindsay’s shoot appeared in New York magazine, however, it was met with little fanfare, despite the hype surrounding it.
Madonna – “Material Girl” video
It’s no secret that Madonna has often tried to replicate Marilyn’s image. She was never more blatant than as in her “Material Girl” video where she imitated Marilyn’s “Diamonds Are A Girl’s Best Friend” Scene from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Megan Hilty – Smash
She’s a blonde bombshell on screen and off. We adore Megan Hilty on Smash, even when her character Ivy Lynn is at her most conniving… In fact, that’s when we like her best.
Nicole Kidman – Harper’s Bazaar
Nicole Kidman did her best Marilyn impersonation for the 10-year anniversary issue of Australian Harper’s Bazaar, with the cover tagline “Some Like It Hot.” Although Nicole is one of the last actresses we’d compare to Marilyn in terms of looks — Nicole would tower over Marilyn and definitely doesn’t have the curves — we like the idea that anyone can channel Marilyn if she gives it her all.
Related Link: 5 Most Iconic White Dresses In Film: Marilyn, Jennifer, Rosie & More!
Photos Courtesy of: The Weinstein Company, The CW, Madwoman in the Attic, New York magazine, Madwoman in the Attic, & Harper’s Bazaar
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