In “Ana de Armas : 3 choses à savoir sur l’héroïne de The Grey Man et de Blonde,” Violaine Schütz explores particulars of Ana de Armas’s life for Numéro journal.
Cuban-Spanish actress born in Havana, Ana de Armas, is carving out a spot for herself within the Hollywood solar. After beginning her profession in Cuba and Madrid, the one who made an impression along with her attractive and muscular appearances in Blade Runner 2049 (2017) and Dying Can Wait (2021) is, at 34, one of the in style names—each on the small and massive screens. An outline of what you have to know concerning the heroine of The Grey Man, Netflix’s new motion blockbuster, and who will quickly be on view within the extremely anticipated and sulfurous fictional biopic devoted to Marilyn Monroe, Blonde, additionally on the streaming platform.
A childhood removed from the glitz of Hollywood
Born in Havana, Cuba, Ana Celia de Armas Caso led a childhood far faraway from the lights and glitter of Hollywood. In contrast to many up-and-coming actors who’re little one stars or have well-known dad and mom, cinema didn’t run via her veins. Her father, who studied philosophy at a Soviet college, was a trainer, financial institution director, faculty principal and deputy mayor, whereas her mom held a place in human sources on the Ministry of Training. As a toddler, Ana de Armas lived for a few years along with her grandparents in Havana, whereas her dad and mom and her brother, who lived within the seaside city of Santa Cruz del Norte solely came around her as soon as per week.
As a result of financial disaster (often known as the “Particular Interval in a Time of Peace”) raging in Cuba within the Nineteen Nineties, following the autumn of the USSR and the cessation of business assist from the socialist bloc, her childhood, Spartan however completely satisfied, was marked by meals rationing and energy cuts, which might final till 4pm. She thus remembers Havana (within the media outlet Males’s Journal): “I grew up in nature, on the seaside, and taking part in on the street with mates. I felt very free. We had been fully unfettered right here and there earlier than returning dwelling for dinner and watching cartoons.” [. . .]
An (inconclusive) appearing profession in Cuba and Spain
From the age of 14, Ana de Armas hitchhiked to courses on the Nationwide Theater of Cuba. Nonetheless a scholar, she was already filming earlier than flying off, 4 years later, to Madrid, with 200 euros in her pocket. The primary characteristic movies and the primary collection of the actress are forgettable, even when they allowed her to be acknowledged on the streets in Spain. She performed notably within the rosy drama Una rosa de Francia (2006); within the present for youngsters, which takes place in a Spanish boarding faculty El Internado (2007-2010); and in a comedy on the passage to the maturity: Mentiras y gordas (2009).
After a stint in New York to attempt to be taught English, Ana de Armas modifications register with a dramatic-historical collection (Hispania, la leyenda, in 2010 and 2011) and a handful of horror movies equivalent to Anabel (2015). She then begins doubting the way forward for her profession, participates in performs for a theater firm in Madrid, after which finds a Hollywood agent earlier than shifting to Los Angeles. Whereas she speaks the language of Shakespeare very badly, she lands a primary position in a U.S. movie, alongside Keanu Reeves (who turns into her first guardian angel in the USA) in Eli Roth’s horrific erotic thriller Knock Knock (2015). [. . .]
An explosive Hollywood rise
In Hollywood, she who first discovered her texts phonetically was, to start with, the femme fatale or the usually romantic or attractive, devoted spouse. Regardless that she was each radiant and charismatic, the great roles weren’t instantly within the playing cards for Ana de Armas. However the Cuban-Spanish girl is set to not let herself be imprisoned within the roles of a Latin bombshell with the looks of an object. It was not till taking part in in Denis Villeneuve’s metaphysical futuristic thriller Blade Runner 2049 (2017), that the actress shone in a secondary position. She performs Ryan Gosling’s girlfriend, Joi. Even when Joi is barely a hologram born from synthetic intelligence, Ana de Armas brings a really carnal and magnetic dimension to her character.
Now, nothing stops the star within the making who goals of a profession like that of Cate Blanchett, Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep, or Penelope Cruz. She proves she has depth in her position as an immigrant nurse in Knives Out (2019), starring Daniel Craig; and exudes haunting attraction in Olivier Assayas’ spy thriller Cuban Community (2019). However it’s as a James Bond woman in No Time to Die that she explodes. In a low-cut night gown, she performs Paloma, a secret CIA agent whose stunts don’t have anything to envy to the male heroes of the movie. The intensive sports activities coaching that she undergoes for this blockbuster will serve the actress for her athletic and “badass” position within the new big-budget Netflix blockbuster The Grey Man, alongside Ryan Gosling and Chris Evans.
Now all eyes are on the one landed the position of Marilyn Monroe within the fictionalized and already controversial biopic (on account of its intercourse scenes, that are deemed stunning) Blonde, primarily based on the best-selling ebook by Joyce Carol Oates. We must wait till September 28, 2022, to seek out out if, regardless of the dearth of apparent resemblance between the 2 actresses, the brand new Hollywood darling, who labored for a 12 months with a diction coach, managed to seize the essence—chic and harmless—of the icon of the 50s.
The Grey Man (2022) by Mark Greaney and Joe Russo, out there on Netflix. Andrew Dominik’s Blonde might be out there on September 28, 2022.
Translated by Ivette Romero. For full, unique article, see https://www.numero.com/fr/cinema/ana-de-armas-blonde-the-gray-man-ryan-gosling-james-bond-daniel-craig
[Photo above by Samir Hussein/WireImage via Getty Images: Ana de Armas in The Gray Man; London, July 19, 2022.]