The refreshing, charming, & empowering conversation sheds lights on the evolutions of these child actors as they navigate agency in the entertainment industry as both actresses & producers, as well as the complexities of social media presence as young women changing the game for future performers.
Check out the endearing & raw discussion below:
While the next season of Wednesday is still in production, the third season of The Great is currently streaming on Hulu. I’m such a fan of these young stars & can’t help but praise their poise, intelligence, empathy, & style with what they’re offering to viewers.
Academy Award-winner & 4-time nominee Penelope Cruz is a style icon. Her combination of classic & dramatic glamour, mixed with a playful & sultry edge makes her style swoon-worthy! As a muse to many designers, she’s always a winner in Chanel, donning ball gowns, sheath dresses, short suits, & more. Most notably, the actress is famous for her gorgeous penchant for black gowns & dresses, which is exactly what we’re featuring for her 49th birthday today! Never has a ruffle, feather, sequin, pleat, tier, halter neck, sweetheart silhouette, beading, floral embellishment, cap sleeve, lace detail, belt, or shawl looked so elegant until Penelope wears it!
Which look is your favorite? Do you like black gowns on the red carpet? What’s your favorite movie starring Penelope? For more stylish celebrity posts, check out: model Miranda Kerr, actresses Jennifer Garner & Sadie Sink, & singer Kacey Musgraves! Happy Styling!
For this post, I’m putting on my academician & literati hat…
I read Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates in 2010, out of my urgent love for Oates’ chilling writing & adoration of Marilyn Monroe as a fashion icon & screen legend. Knowing that the book was, in fact, marketed & labeled as a fictional biography, I voluntarily stepped into Oates’ well-researched & mystifying gaze upon Monroe’s troubled & glitzy life. By the time I finished the book, my heart sunk deeply into a place of grief for another version of the life of Hollywood’s most iconic of bombshells, ending in solemn tragedy, the same feeling I recognized from HBO’s Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996) & then later with My Week with Marilyn (2011), as well as Netflix’s documentary The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes (2022), HBO’s documentary Love, Marilyn (2012), & Lifetime’s The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe (2015).
No matter the avenue by which a viewer enters the memory of Monroe, the outcome is always the same; at first, I suspected that Oates’ Blonde offered a revisionist hope, but by the end, that remains unattained because Monroe does die & never gets her glorious victory. That’s a blunt reality that can’t be changed, even if the fictional road to her demise is illustrated with fearless creative license.
However, not long after completing Oates’ novel, I started freelancing for Movie Buzzers, & the one bit of film news to have followed me from that era of my life has finally come to fruition with director Andrew Dominik’s interpretation of Oates’ heralded fiction, which has come under fire with deeply scathing criticism, after its long-awaited premiere.
Having read the book & nearly every major review of the controversial film, I stand firm in stating that Dominik serves Oates well. That’s not to say that the film is perfect, but it’s a loyal depiction of another artist’s depiction, & yes, these are depictions of a real woman—one who is still very much relevant at the forefront of the media 60 years after her death. These days, headlines about Monroe are less about her films & more about her experiences through the lens of the media & paparazzi. No matter the screen size, big or small, Monroe’s legacy is fraught with exploitation. Dominik serves one more example, albeit an explicit & unapologetic vision, that won’t victimize her more than she already was, especially as unauthorized biopics & mini series about other celebrities—who are still alive & vocal about their disapproval for such interpretations—are made by those with enough money to not care, consumed by the public, & awarded by the industry (see: Pam & Tommy).
The NC-17 rating for Blonde is a justified warning the audience chooses to join when streaming the film on Netflix; therefore, they should expect the unexpected. The sex is graphic. The nudity is excessive. The abuse is gutting. The fetuses—yes, plural—are unnecessary, but overall, vehicles that reinforce the myth of who the woman underneath the platinum persona was. Marilyn Monroe is a myth that killed Norma Jean Baker—that is Dominik & Oates’ story.
In addition, Ana de Armas, recognizable accent & all, is mesmerizing, even in tears, on a stage, when victimized, opposite her lovers, when nude, in a drug-induced hysteria, & when joyous. de Armas embodies Oates’ Monroe, spitting out every ugly side of a male-dominated, vicious Hollywood back at the audience. Moreover, de Armas conquers the demands of the role, sure to garner her an Oscar nomination.
The shifts from color to black & white are confusing, but it’s wiser to go with it than question it, in order to immerse the audience in the imagery that made Monroe sparkle & dimmed her at the same time.
The costumes, hair, & makeup are identical & uncanny to Monroe’s most gorgeous, provocative, & vulnerable moments captured on film & through photographs.
Ultimately, if your hope is to enjoy Blonde, do your research first to not only understand the source material, but the context in which Monroe lived. Do I recommend this film? Not to every one. However, there are far more shocking & formulaic forms of entertainment about fantastical lands with their own crude, misogynistic mythologies that the masses flock to. If you appreciate cinematic artistry that pushes boundaries, watch Blonde. If everything you’ve heard about it makes you pause, move on.
Also, read Oates’ short story “Three Girls” to see how the author focuses on Monroe in a shorter, more validating & charming fictional work that I’d love to see find its way to the big screen.
View the trailer & other videos about Blonde below. Happy Styling!
When I learned that Golden Globe-nominated actress Ana de Armas had arrived in Venice, I was so excited to refresh my feeds to see what the Cuban star would wear to the highly-anticipated premiere of her controversial film, Blonde, where she stars as Marilyn Monroe. Naturally, her red carpet look would be elegant & stunning, but also, I wondered if & how the gown would represent the bombshell icon at the center of the film.
In a bright pink pleated gown with a deep-v by Louis Vuitton, Ana graced the red carpet in true Hollywood fashion. Her gentle waves & sophisticated jewelry by Messika hearken to an era of glamour & ease that offers a refreshing twist on Barbiecore.
Additionally, the hue pays homage to Marilyn’s signature pink from her “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend” musical sequence in the 1949 film Gentleman Prefer Blondes; likewise, the halter & pleated look of Ana’s dress are reminiscent of the iconic subway grate scene in The Seven Year Itch from 1955.
Escorted to the premiere by one of the film’s producers, Brad Pitt, Ana shines, which is no surprise. I hope this marks the beginning of an exciting & stylish press tour for the 2 hour 46-minute film that’s rated NC-17 & is based on the disorienting evocative fictional biography by Joyce Carol Oates that begins streaming on Netflix on September 28th, especially leading up to awards season!
Last night, Hollywood was a glow with gray… as in Netflix’s The Gray Man, directed by The Russo Brothers, premiered with all the stars gracing the red carpet in their very best glam for one of the hottest movies of the summer. The film reunites Cuban actress Ana de Armas with her Knives Out costar, Chris Evans, in a casual chic navy suit, and Bladerunner2049 lead, Ryan Gosling, Ken-ning it up in a mint & white, answering questions about the film’s stunts & his preparation for the upcoming Barbie movie with Margot Robbie.
However, Ana stole the spotlight in a shimmering Louis Vuitton Cruise 2023 gown, especially with all the buzz surrounding her upcoming portrayal of Marilyn Monroe in the film adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates fictional biographyBlonde, directed by Andrew Dominik. After a breakout last two years in Knives Out and the recent 007 film, No Time to Die, Ana is one to watch on screen & on the red carpet. Every angle of this gown is beautiful & her poise, starpower, & style are breathtaking.
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAna de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAna de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAna de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAna de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAna de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAna de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAna de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAna de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Additionally, the film’s cast includes Bridgerton alum Regé-Jean Page in a navy suit, Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood rising star Julia Butters in a gold sparkling gown, Jessica Henwick from The Matrix Resurrections wearing a plunging v-neck gray gown, Oscar nominee Alfre Woodard, Oscar-winner Billy Bob Thornton, & Indian actor Dhanush. Also, in attendance for the premiere, lighting up the red carpet were Bridgerton star Simone Ashley in a black cut-out gown, the voice of Moana & Brazillian actress Any Gabrielly, model Kara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown, model & YouTube star Emma Brooks in a black deep-v mini dress, & Disney star Kelli Berglund in a mixed printed mini dress.
Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRyan Gosling, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRyan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRyan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRyan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRyan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRyan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManChris Evans in a navy suit and sunglasses at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManChris Evans in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRegé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRegé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRegé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRegé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManRegé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManJulia Butters in a gold gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManJulia Butters in a gold gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManJulia Butters in a gold gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManJulia Butters and Ana de Armas at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManSimone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManSimone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManSimone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManSimone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManSimone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManSimone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAny Gabrielly in a black high-slit cut-out dress and knee boots at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAny Gabrielly in a black high-slit cut-out dress and knee boots at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAny Gabrielly in a black high-slit cut-out dress and knee boots at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManEmma Brooks in a plunging v-neck black mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManEmma Brooks in a plunging v-neck black mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManEmma Brooks in a plunging v-neck black mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManJessica Henwick in a gray plunging v-neck gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManJessica Henwick in a gray plunging v-neck gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManJessica Henwick in a gray plunging v-neck gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManKara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManKara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManKara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManKara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManKara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManKara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManKelli Berglund in a mixed print mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManKelli Berglund in a mixed print mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man2D038453-C432-4D10-9AD9-8DE127946855Alfre Woodard at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAlfre Woodard at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManAlfre Woodard at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray ManDhanush, Regé-Jean Page, Julia butters, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwick, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, and Alfre Woodard at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ana de Armas in Louis Vuitton at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, and Chris Evans at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Chris Evans in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Chris Evans in a navy suit and sunglasses at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Ryan Gosling in a mint suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Regé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Regé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Regé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Regé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Regé-Jean Page in a navy suit at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Julia Butters in a gold gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Julia Butters in a gold gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Julia Butters in a gold gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Julia Butters and Ana de Armas at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Simone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Simone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Simone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Simone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Simone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Simone Ashley in a black strappy cut-out gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Any Gabrielly in a black high-slit cut-out dress and knee boots at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Any Gabrielly in a black high-slit cut-out dress and knee boots at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Any Gabrielly in a black high-slit cut-out dress and knee boots at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Emma Brooks in a plunging v-neck black mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Emma Brooks in a plunging v-neck black mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Emma Brooks in a plunging v-neck black mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Jessica Henwick in a gray plunging v-neck gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Jessica Henwick in a gray plunging v-neck gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Jessica Henwick in a gray plunging v-neck gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Kara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Kara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Kara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Kara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Kara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Kara Del Toro in a red ruched lace high-slit gown at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Kelli Berglund in a mixed print mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Kelli Berglund in a mixed print mini dress at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
2D038453-C432-4D10-9AD9-8DE127946855
Alfre Woodard at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Alfre Woodard at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Alfre Woodard at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
Dhanush, Regé-Jean Page, Julia butters, Billy Bob Thornton, Jessica Henwick, Ryan Gosling, Ana de Armas, Chris Evans, and Alfre Woodard at the Los Angeles premiere of Netflix’s The Gray Man
For more access to the red carpet premiere of the film, check out the videos below to hear from Ana, Chris, & Ryan all about preparation for the action-packed The Gray Man & more!
If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the stars in The Gray Man with the trailer below:
The film debuts on Netflix for your streaming pleasure on July 22nd! I know I can’t wait to see it–even though action films aren’t necessarily my go-to film choice, I’m a loyal follower of Ana de Armas & Ryan Gosling, happy to support their stylish endeavors with posts on Style Darling Daily, along with their on-screen accomplishments.
As the recent covers of fashion publications get more & more glamorous, readers are also served plentiful substance concerning diversity & culture-conscious topics since the language of fashion encompasses all identities. This is why Vogue‘s August 2022 issue, featuring Golden Globe-winner, Emma Corrin (they/them), is such a milestone for LGBTQ+ visibility & an opportunity to explore the fluidity of fashion. Emma is the first openly non-binary cover star for the magazine, embracing both fashion & body hair their way—unapologetically!
Spector not only writes about Emma’s rise to fame as Princess Diana on Netflix’s The Crown, but also their upcoming projects, including My Policeman, alongside Harry Styles, & an adaptation of Lady Chatterly’s Lover by D. H. Lawrence, as well as Emma’s social media presence supporting & raising awareness for the trans community. Emma states, “In my mind, gender just isn’t something that feels fixed…and I don’t know if it ever will be; there might always be some fluidity there for me…If you have a platform and you’re able to use it, that’s obviously so important—and I met some incredible people through it.”
The article, written by Adam B. Vary, includes not only Natalie’s reflection on her career, including the painstaking transformation that she experienced while filming Black Swan, her Academy Award-winning role, but also she discusses family, giving back, activism for women’s rights, & upcoming projects, including Lady in the Lake for Apple TV+.
Natalie speaks to the publication about her own superhero experiences and wishes, along with how she prepared for the role.
On the red carpet for the premiere, Natalie continues to praise her fellow superheroes, stating how lucky she feels to be a part of such an important role for young girls.
Also, last month, Natalie appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live, interviewed by comedy actor Sean Hayes, for more fun discussion about the film & Natalie’s preparations for it.
If you haven’t seen it already, here is the trailer for the highly anticipated film:
Hollywood was all aglow tonight with not only the stars of Marvel’s latest Thor: Love & Thunder, but the premiere dazzled with red carpet looks from the film’s stylish stars. This includes leading lady Natalie Portman who sparkled in rose gold Celine Couture mini dress, the always stunning Tessa Thompson who was sleek in a cut-out Armani Prive column gown, badass Karen Gillan who played with florals in an Oscar de la Renta mini, Kat Dennings wore a flirty black mini dress by Alessandra Rich, Elsa Pataky stepped out in a plunging Dundas gown, Xochitl Gomez struck a pose in a red Monot, Eternals actress Lia McHugh wore a floral ruffle PatBo gown, & Jaimie Alexander‘s purple Marc Jacobs number made a statement. Check out the gallery & slideshow below!
The blonde bombshell discusses her production company, LuckyChap Entertainment, established in 2014, as well as her new film Mary Queen of Scots co-starring Saoirse Ronan.
For more on the article (by Christine Lennon) & dazzling photographs (by Camilla Akrans), click here. Also, for more fashionable magazine covers featuring Margot Robbie, check out Elle, W magazine, & British Vogue. This issue of Harper’s Bazaar hits newsstands on November 20th! Happy Styling!
Style Darling Daily 