Netflix Blonde cast guide: Who stars in the Marilyn Monroe movie?

An adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates’ novel of the same name, Blonde is the controversial and divisive new movie about Marilyn Monroe starring Ana de Armas in the leading role. From its NC-17 rating to poor reviews lambasting director Andrew Dominik for his take on the late starlet, Blonde has drummed up all kinds of attention, and most of it isn’t good.

But if you are looking forward to this fictionalized retelling of Monroe’s life, you might be curious to learn who all stars in the movie besides Armas. She’s joined by a talented supporting cast that includes Julianne Nicholson, Adrien Brody, Bobby Cannavale, and more.

Netflix Blonde cast guide

Ana de Armas as Marilyn Monroe

Ana de Armas is the main star of Blonde, playing Marilyn Monroe.

• Birthday: April 30, 1988
• Age: 34
• Star sign: Taurus
• Height: 5′ 6″

Where have you seen her before? Ana de Armas’ early English-speaking roles include the thriller Knock Knock and the comedy film War Dogs. She became well-known after starring in Blade Runner 2049 and then had her break-out role in Knives Out, for which she earned a Golden Globe nomination. Since then, she has gone on to star in movies like No Time to Die, Deep Water, and The Gray Man.

What’s next? Armas will reunite with her Gray Man co-star Chris Evans in the romantic action-adventure Apple original movie Ghosted. She will also lead the John Wick spin-off movie Ballerina.

Social media: Instagram

Adrien Brody as The Playwright

Adrien Brody plays “The Playwright,” which is the moniker given to Arthur Miller in the movie. Miller was a notable playwright responsible for writing plays like Death of a Salesman and The Crucible. He and Marilyn Monroe were married for several years.

• Birthday: April 14, 1973
• Age: 49
• Star sign: Aries
• Height: 6′ 1″

Where have you seen him before? Adrien Brody’s biggest claim to fame is probably for his work in the 2002 film The Pianist. He won an Academy Award for his work in the movie and was the youngest actor to do so in the Best Actor category.

You might also recognize him from some of Wes Anderson’s movies, as he’s appeared in several like The French Dispatch, Fantastic Mr. Fox, and The Grand Budapest Hotel. Recently, Brody starred in Peaky Blinders season 4, the EPIX series Chapelwaite, the HBO drama Winning Time, and the comedy-mystery movie See How They Run.

What’s next? He will co-star with Natasha Lyonne in the Peacock series Poker Face and he’ll reunite with Blonde co-star Ana de Armas in the Apple movie Ghosted. Brody is also set to appear in a currently untitled comedy from writer/director Charlie Day.

Some of his other upcoming projects include:

• Asteroid City – Wes Anderson’s next film
• Manodrome – Thriller from John Trengove

Social media: Instagram and Twitter

Bobby Cannavale as The Ex-Athlete

Bobby Cannavale plays “The Ex-Athlete,” Joe DiMaggio. DiMaggio was a baseball player in the Major League and Marilyn Monroe’s second husband.

• Birthday: May 3, 1970
• Age: 52
• Star sign: Taurus
• Height: 6′ 2″
• Relationship status: Married to actress Rose Byrne

Where have you seen him before? Bobby Cannavale has been acting in Hollywood since the late 1990s and is known for his roles in shows like Mr. Robot and Will & Grace (which netted him a Primetime Emmy Award).

He also won an Emmy for his work in Boardwalk Empire. Some of his other notable roles include Blue Jasmine, Spy, Ant-Man, The Irishman, I, Tonya, and Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle. He recently starred in the Hulu miniseries Nine Perfect Strangers and lent his voice to the Netflix animated comedy series Human Resources.

What’s next? Cannavale will next appear in another Netflix project, The Watcher, which premieres this October. After that, the actor is set for Bill Burr’s comedy Old Dads, high school comedy Incoming, and a comedy with Robert de Niro called Inappropriate Behavior.

Xavier Samuel as Charles “Cass” Chaplin Jr.

Australian actor Xavier Samuel plays Charles “Cass” Chaplin Jr., the elder son of Charlie Chaplin and Lisa Grey. In Blonde, Monroe is involved in a “throuple” relationship with Cass and Eddy G. Robinson Jr., which is not something that happened in real life.

• Birthday: December 10, 1983
• Age: 38
• Star sign: Sagittarius
• Height: 5′ 10″

Where have you seen him before? Xavier Samuel is probably best known for playing Riley Biers in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse. Beyond that, he has appeared in movies like Adore, Elvis, A Few Less Men, Spin Out, Fury, Love & Friendship, and Frankenstein. He also starred in the Prime Video series Tell Me Your Secrets.

What’s next? He will next appear with Teresa Palmer in the Australian Disney+ series The Clearing.

Social media: Instagram

Julianne Nicholson as Gladys Pearl Baker

Julianne Nicholson plays Marilyn Monroe’s mother, Gladys Pearl Baker in Blonde.

• Birthday: July 1, 1971
• Age: 51
• Star sign: Cancer
• Height: 5′ 9″
• Relationship status: Married to English actor Jonathan Cake

Where have you seen her before? Julianne Nicholson is probably most immediately recognizable for her scene-stealing turn in the HBO drama Mare of Easttown, for which she won a Primetime Emmy Award. Beyond that, she is known for Tully, Boardwalk Empire, I, Tonya, The Outsider, Ally McBeal, Masters of Sex, August: Osage County, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

What’s next? Nicholson plays Mary Yankovic in Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, a new biopic about Weird Al coming to Roku soon and starring Daniel Radcliffe in the title role.

Social media: Instagram

Evan Williams as Edward G. Robinson Jr.

Canadian actor Evan Williams plays American actor Edward “Eddy” G. Robinson Jr., one half of the film’s “throuple” involving Marilyn Monroe and Cass Chaplin Jr.

• Birthday: March 11, 1984
• Age: 38
• Star sign: Pisces
• Height: 5’10”

Where have you seen him before? Fans of Degrassi: The Next Generation might recognize Evan Williams from his days of playing Kelly Ashoona on the series. He also played Chevalier de Lorraine in the French historical drama Versailles, which is on Netflix.

What’s next? He’ll next star in the Hallmark Channel series The Way Home.

Social media: Instagram

Blonde releases this Wednesday, September 28, on Netflix.