 |
| Scarlett Johanson as Marlene Dietrich |
to make this any more clear. To all the confused people that say "Madonna copied Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich, Greta Garbo, etc, etc, etc", please understand that there is a HUGE difference between paying homage to a deceased Hollywood icon and ripping off music and style from a living singer who is still actively working as part of your package and brand.
Madonna may have done a few films but let's face it, she's no actor. The Hollywood icons she played dress up in honour of were not recording artists. They weren't icons she shamelessly borrowed from trying to claim as her own. She did not mimic their speech, their acting techniques nor did they have any past pop songs for her to plagiarize.
Plenty of celebrities, in addition to Madonna, have dressed as or channeled Hollywood icons be it for an award show, photo spread or music video. Madonna is not the first and she certainly won't be the last. Here's pretty good list.
 |
| Gina Gershon as Sophia Loren |
- Lindsay Lohan (Marilyn Monroe)
- Cate Blanchett (Veronica Lake)
- Martha Stewart (Veronica Lake)
- Scarlett Johanson (Marilyn Monroe, Marlene Dietrich)
- Anna Nicole Smith (Marilyn Monroe)
- Portia de Rossi (Marilyn Monroe)
- Katie Couric (Marilyn Monroe)
- Gwen Stefani (Marilyn Monroe)
- Nicole Kidman (Marilyn Monroe)
- Pamela Anderson (Marilyn Monroe)
- Rihanna (Marilyn Monroe)
- Taylor Swift (Marlene Dietrich)
- Kathy Griffin (Bettie Page)
- Dita Von Teese (Bettie Page)
- Katy Perry (Bettie Page)
- Kate Winslet (Elizabeth Taylor)
- Megan Fox (Elizabeth Taylor)
- Kristen Stewart (Elizabeth Taylor)
- Winona Ryder (Elizabeth Taylor)
- Calista Flockhart (Audrey Hepburn)
- Gina Gershon (Sophia Loren)
- Susan Sarandon (Bette Davis)
- Christina Aguilera (Marilyn Monroe)
- Jessica Biel (Dorian Leigh)
- Amy Adams (Rita Hayworth)
 |
| Kate Winslet as Elizabeth Taylor |
Let's not forget the countless times these legends were channeled for a fashion ad campaign for a design house or on the runway.
Are they all copying? Of course not. So many have tipped their hats to these lovely ladies because they are legend; icons; timeless; respected and admired. There is a fascination with Old Hollywood. It was a true glamorous and classy time with tough yet feminine broads, never trashy. Real ladies. Those days are long gone and some try to bring it back only if for a little while.
And yes, Lady Gaga has channeled Marilyn Monroe on at least two occasions. She's not copying either.
 |
| Cate Blanchett as Veronica Lake |
As long as Hollywood exists, these icons will always be seen as if stuck in a time capsule, possessing the bodies of others.
 |
| Amy Adams as Rita Hayworth |
 | |
| Lindsay Lohan as Marilyn Monroe |
How are all the pictures above any different than this:
 |
| Madonna as Marilyn Monroe |
 |
| Madonna as Marilyn Monroe |
I thought so. There is no difference because Madonna always made it beyond obvious that she was paying homage. She never thought she was Marilyn or thought she could replace her. She never tried to pretend to be "Marilyn like" as if Marilyn never existed in the first place. She was simply a huge admirer among so many others. Unlike Stefani, who, oh I don't know, ripped off Express Yourself then played stupid when when questioned about it.
I'm posting this again because of the constant Madonna copied Marilyn talk. Who hasn't, if you want to call it copying, which it isn't. If you want to call out someone for being a Marilyn copy cat, look toward Anna Nicole Smith. Anna wanted to act, she mimicked Marilyn's look, speech, demeanor, everything. If there was anyone who wanted to be Marilyn's reincarnation, it was her.
I'm posting this again because of the constant Madonna copied Marilyn talk. Who hasn't, if you want to call it copying, which it isn't. If you want to call out someone for being a Marilyn copy cat, look toward Anna Nicole Smith. Anna wanted to act, she mimicked Marilyn's look, speech, demeanor, everything. If there was anyone who wanted to be Marilyn's reincarnation, it was her.
