Ana de Armas

Name at birth: Ana Celia de Armas Caso

Ana de Armas is the actress whose run of high-profile roles led to her 2023 Oscar nomination for playing Marilyn Monroe in the film Blonde. Ana de Armas was born and raised in Cuba, and was accepted into the National Theater of Cuba at age 14. Three years later she starred in her first film, the Cuban romance Una rosa de Francia. Shortly afterwards she moved to Spain and joined the TV teen drama El Internado (The Boarding School, 2007-10), following it up with roles in a smattering of Spanish films. Then it was off to Hollywood, where she got good notices for supporting roles in films like the thriller War Dogs (2016, with Miles Teller). She broke through in a big way in the 2017 sci-fi sequel Blade Runner 2049. The role of Joi, the holographic girlfriend to android detective K (played by Ryan Gosling), used de Armas's soulful eyes and beguiling charisma to maximum effect. The lighthearted murder mystery Knives Out (2018) made her star; she delighted reviewers in the role of a seemingly-insignificant nurse who soon proves central to the goings-on. Another high-profile role was as Paloma, a surprisingly lethal Cuban CIA agent in the 2021 James Bond film No Time to Die, wearing high heels and a slit skirt as she joined Daniel Craig's superspy in a rousing gun battle. Deep Water (2022) was a psychological thriller with Ben Affleck, and the two actors also engaged in a high-profile offscreen Covid-era romance. The same year she was the surprise choice to play iconic actress Marilyn Monroe in the biopic Blonde, based on the 2002 book by Joyce Carol Oates. Her work in the super-dramatic role led to her 2023 Academy Award nomination as best actress.