In a 2021 interview for TV Store Online, Hicks said: "When I think about her, I'm never thinking that it's an adoration of a great movie star, but that she's my dead older sister. I felt then, and still do, that I have to act as a sort of defense attorney on her behalf so that her story can be told, and that the facts aren't twisted."

15 / 31 Fotos

Constance Forslund - 'This Year's Blonde' (1980) -

Also in 1980, Constance Forslund played Monroe in the NBC TV movie 'This Year's Blonde.' It's based on the Garson Kanin novel 'Moviola' (1979).

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Constance Forslund - 'This Year's Blonde' (1980) -

In this adaptation, the plot focuses on Monroe's relationship with her first talent agent, Johnny Hyde, who was in love with her and tried to pursue her.

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Constance Forslund - 'This Year's Blonde' (1980) -

However, in real life, days after Hyde secured her contract with 20th Century Fox, he died of a heart attack.

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Misty Rowe - 'Goodbye, Norma Jean' (1976) -

The first ever biopic about Marilyn Monroe came 14 years after her death. Portrayed by Misty Rowe, the film doesn't go into her film career, instead following her early life through her modeling career.

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Misty Rowe - 'Goodbye, Norma Jean' (1976) -

Claimed to be based on a true story, the film begins with a disclaimer: "Not the legend, nor even the way she told it. This is the way it was."

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Misty Rowe - 'Goodbye, Norma Jean' (1976) -

In an interview in 2020, Rowe shared: "It was a lot of pressure, but I got so much publicity out of it because I was the first actress to ever play Monroe in a feature film."

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Barbara Niven - 'The Rat Pack' (1998) -

With the late Ray Liotta as Frank Sinatra, Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin, and Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis Jr., Barbara Niven played Marilyn Monroe in the 1998 film 'The Rat Pack.'

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Barbara Niven - 'The Rat Pack' (1998) -

A proper historical crime drama, the film shows Sinatra introducing Kennedy to Monroe. And even if it was a small role, Niven played one of the biggest stars of the 20th century.

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Barbara Niven - 'The Rat Pack' (1998) -

After she was Marilyn Monroe, Niven saw a long career making Lifetime and Hallmark films.

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Kelli Garner - 'The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe' (2015) -

In 2015, Kelli Garner played Monroe in the Lifetime miniseries 'The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe.' It was based on the book of the same name by J. Randy Taraborrelli.

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Kelli Garner - 'The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe' (2015) -

However, unlike many of the other portrayals, this miniseries focused on Monroe's relationship with her mother Gladys, played by Susan Sarandon. Sarandon's daughter Eva Amurri played the younger version of Gladys.

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Kelli Garner - 'The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe' (2015) -

Garner told Today that she was "extremely apprehensive" to take on the role, as playing Marilyn Monroe were big shoes to fill.

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Susan Griffiths - 'Marilyn and Me' (1991) -

Susan Griffiths was already making a living as a Monroe look-alike when she got the chance to play the actress in the 1991 TV movie.

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Susan Griffiths - 'Marilyn and Me' (1991) -

While she isn't the biggest name to play the blonde bombshell, she's certainly the biggest doppelgänger, with 12 Monroe credits to her name!

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Susan Griffiths - 'Marilyn and Me' (1991) -

The film is based on the life of the late writer Robert Slatzer, who claimed he secretly married Marilyn Monroe in Mexico in 1952. However, there's no evidence pointing to this. He wrote a book, 'The Life and Curious Death of Marilyn Monroe,' in 1974.

Sources: (Insider) (People) (Entertainment Weekly)

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Ana de Armas - 'Blonde' (2022) -

Ana de Armas is the most recent actress to play Marilyn, this time in 'Blonde' (2022). The film is the second adaptation of a 2000 novel by Joyce Carol Oates.

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Ana de Armas - 'Blonde' (2022) -

Directed by Andrew Dominik, the controversial film is a fictional take on the icon's life. With tons of mixed reviews, it earned a NC-17 rating.

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Ana de Armas - 'Blonde' (2022) -

Nonetheless, de Armas completely transformed into Monroe, which earned her a Best Leading Actress nomination for the 2023 Oscars. She's the first Cuban to be nominated in this category.

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Michelle Williams - 'My Week with Marilyn' (2011) -

Williams transformed into the famous siren for the 2011 film 'My Week with Marilyn.' She won a Golden Globe Award for her portrayal, and earned an Academy Award nomination.

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Michelle Williams - 'My Week with Marilyn' (2011) -

The film focuses on a week in Monroe's life, when she's in London to shoot 'The Prince and the Showgirl' (1957) with Laurence Olivier, played by Kenneth Branagh.

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Michelle Williams - 'My Week with Marilyn' (2011) -

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Ashley Judd - 'Norma Jean & Marilyn' (1996) -

In the 1996 HBO original movie, Ashley Judd starred as Marilyn Monroe before she found fame. This was back when she was Norma Jean Baker.

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Ashley Judd - 'Norma Jean & Marilyn' (1996) -

Though Norma isn't as big as her final form, played by Mira Sorvino, the film pushes the importance that Marilyn Monroe was a fantasy, and Norma Jean was her reality.

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Ashley Judd - 'Norma Jean & Marilyn' (1996) -

Judd's performance earned her Golden Globe and Emmy nominations.

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Mira Sorvino - 'Norma Jean & Marilyn' (1996) -

After winning an Oscar and Golden Globe for her work in Woody Allen's 'Mighty Aphrodite' (1995), Mira Sorvino went on to portray Marilyn Monroe in 'Norma Jean & Marilyn.'

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Mira Sorvino - 'Norma Jean & Marilyn' (1996) -

In the made-for-TV, she channels the famous actress after she turned herself into the Hollywood superstar we all know.

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Mira Sorvino - 'Norma Jean & Marilyn' (1996) -

Just like Judd, Sorvino was also nominated for a Golden Globe and an Emmy.

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Catherine Hicks - 'Marilyn: The Untold Story' (1980) -

The TV film was based on Norman Mailer's 1973 biography 'Marilyn: A Biography.' It received positive reviews and four Emmy nominations, including one for Catherine Hicks' performance.

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Catherine Hicks - 'Marilyn: The Untold Story' (1980) -

The film followed Monroe's tumultuous upbringing and even rockier marriages to baseball star Joe DiMaggio and esteemed playwright Arthur Miller.

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Catherine Hicks - 'Marilyn: The Untold Story' (1980) -

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15 / 31 Fotos

Constance Forslund - 'This Year's Blonde' (1980) -

Also in 1980, Constance Forslund played Monroe in the NBC TV movie 'This Year's Blonde.' It's based on the Garson Kanin novel 'Moviola' (1979).

Getty Images

16 / 31 Fotos

Constance Forslund - 'This Year's Blonde' (1980) -

In this adaptation, the plot focuses on Monroe's relationship with her first talent agent, Johnny Hyde, who was in love with her and tried to pursue her.

Getty Images

17 / 31 Fotos

Constance Forslund - 'This Year's Blonde' (1980) -

However, in real life, days after Hyde secured her contract with 20th Century Fox, he died of a heart attack.

Getty Images

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Misty Rowe - 'Goodbye, Norma Jean' (1976) -

Getty Images

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Misty Rowe - 'Goodbye, Norma Jean' (1976) -

Claimed to be based on a true story, the film begins with a disclaimer: "Not the legend, nor even the way she told it. This is the way it was."

Getty Images

20 / 31 Fotos

Misty Rowe - 'Goodbye, Norma Jean' (1976) -

In an interview in 2020, Rowe shared: "It was a lot of pressure, but I got so much publicity out of it because I was the first actress to ever play Monroe in a feature film."

Getty Images

21 / 31 Fotos

Barbara Niven - 'The Rat Pack' (1998) -

With the late Ray Liotta as Frank Sinatra, Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin, and Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis Jr., Barbara Niven played Marilyn Monroe in the 1998 film 'The Rat Pack.'

Getty Images

22 / 31 Fotos

Barbara Niven - 'The Rat Pack' (1998) -

A proper historical crime drama, the film shows Sinatra introducing Kennedy to Monroe. And even if it was a small role, Niven played one of the biggest stars of the 20th century.

Getty Images

23 / 31 Fotos

Barbara Niven - 'The Rat Pack' (1998) -

After she was Marilyn Monroe, Niven saw a long career making Lifetime and Hallmark films.

Getty Images

24 / 31 Fotos

Kelli Garner - 'The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe' (2015) -

In 2015, Kelli Garner played Monroe in the Lifetime miniseries 'The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe.' It was based on the book of the same name by J. Randy Taraborrelli.

Getty Images

25 / 31 Fotos

Kelli Garner - 'The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe' (2015) -

Getty Images

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Kelli Garner - 'The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe' (2015) -

Garner told Today that she was "extremely apprehensive" to take on the role, as playing Marilyn Monroe were big shoes to fill.

Getty Images

27 / 31 Fotos

Susan Griffiths - 'Marilyn and Me' (1991) -

Susan Griffiths was already making a living as a Monroe look-alike when she got the chance to play the actress in the 1991 TV movie.

Getty Images

28 / 31 Fotos

Susan Griffiths - 'Marilyn and Me' (1991) -

While she isn't the biggest name to play the blonde bombshell, she's certainly the biggest doppelgänger, with 12 Monroe credits to her name!

Getty Images

29 / 31 Fotos

Susan Griffiths - 'Marilyn and Me' (1991) -

Sources: (Insider) (People) (Entertainment Weekly)

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Marilyn Monroe: who played her better?

All of these stars have portrayed the blonde bombshell

07/02/23 | StarsInsider

CELEBRITY Acting

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe became a huge film star and Hollywood icon in the 1950s. Between her iconic roles, her status as a sex symbol, her tumultuous marriages, her alleged affair with John F. Kennedy, and the tragic circumstances of her death, Monroe emerged as one of the most enduringly famous figures in the word. Indeed, our fascination with her hasn't faded away. This is clear when we see the amount of references of her in pop culture, including in TV and cinema.

Many have portrayed Marilyn since her death, a few more successfully than others. From Michelle Williams to Ana de Armas, let's look back on some of the actresses who filled the starlet’s high heels on screen. Click on for more.