Model turned actress Milla Jovovich (Resident Evil) posed in an MM-inspired shoot for photographer Ellen Von Unwerth at Hollywood’s Chateau Marmont recently. The pictures, and accompanying interview, are published in French magazine Madame Figaro.
“How did you create the character of Marilyn?
Ellen has a pretty crazy sense of humor. We went partly for Marilyn’s look, with the stylist, then we forced the line: a stronger makeup, messier hair, bigger cleavage, like Jayne Mansfield. Distance between fun and great affection for the character.
You just turned 36, the age at which Marilyn committed suicide. Do you feel close to her?
Apart from having worked with Richard Avedon, I had never thought about other things in common with Marilyn. Like the fact that she was a model before becoming an actress … It fascinates me, necessarily, as it touches me. From her image, you could not guess the horrors she crossed personally and professionally. Reduced to the status of sex symbol in ‘Dumb Blonde’ comedies, when she was a great dramatic talent. At the same age, I am relieved not to have known that way. Today, one can succeed as an actress without being subject to the studio system.”
