New Photo of Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe in MY WEEK WITH MARILYN

A new image of Michelle Williams as the titular character in My Week With Marilyn has been released, proving more and more that she was a superb choice to play the one and only Marilyn Monroe. The photo exudes the grace and ease that made the original bombshell so beloved and famous. The film is based of the memoirs of Colin Clark, an employee of Sir Laurence Oliver, who experienced firsthand Monroe’s and Olivier’s tumultuous relationship during the filming of The Prince and the Showgirl in 1956. This film boasts of some of Britain’s finest actors, with Kenneth Branagh as Olivier, Dominic Cooper, Julia Ormond, Judi Dench, Emma Watson, and Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark.  Williams told the Daily Mail that she didn’t immediately want the role, but was pulled in by Monroe’s depth:

“I knew I wouldn’t be able to resist, eventually. Physically and vocally, everything about her is different from me. I’ve kind of gone to school and had teachers help me understand Marilyn, so I could project an essence of her. When I first approached the part, I thought that there were three, even four parts to Marylin.”

For more quotes and information on the film, continue after the jump.

Williams has become very dedicated to the role, saying “I feel like we live together… At a certain point, something else does take over. I don’t quite feel myself these days.” Reactions thus far have been extremely positive to her portrayal of the icon. This film will be released and distributed in 2012 by The Weinstein Company, who take the award season very seriously. If rumor becomes truth, then Williams should be a contender for the Best Actress category.

She will be seen next in Blue Valentine along side with Ryan Gosling and received a positive response at its Sundance showing. But, recently, it was given an NC-17 rating which is being fought by The Weinstein Company, who views the rating as unfair.   Since very few theaters will show a NC-17 film, this appeal is very important to its release.

The article also revealed an interesting look into the life of co-star Kenneth Branagh, who is juggling principal photography on My Week with Marilyn and post-production on Thor, which has the impending release date of May 6th 2011. As director of Thor as well as a lead in this film, Branagh has had to fly between Hollywood and London every few days to finish work on both movies.

A synopsis of the book The Prince, the Showgirl, and Me: Six Months on Set with Marilyn and Olivier (Via Amazon):

Clark, son of historian Sir Kenneth Clark, spent his days just after college as third assistant director (read gofer) on the set of the 1957 British film The Prince and The Showgirl.  What made this film unique, and the reason Clark decided to keep a daily journal, was the unlikely pairing of Marilyn Monroe and Sir Lawrence Olivier in the title roles. Monroe hoped this would give her a more serious image; Olivier hoped to boost his film career.  But Monroe was insecure; treated badly by her new husband, Arthur Miller; and often late and on drugs.  Olivier, the consummate professional, had no patience.

Here’s another look at Williams as Monroe.