Marilyn Monroe Stars as the Face of the Festival de Cannes' Official Poster

The gentlemen of the Festival de Cannes prefer blondes, choosing Marilyn Monroe as the face of the official poster of the fest’s 65th edition. This year’s festival will mark two weeks with Marilyn, as her image welcomes the international film industry to the famous Palais in Cannes.

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The poster is the fest’s tribute to the fallen star to mark the 50th anniversary of her death. The poster features Marilyn seductively blowing out a candle on a birthday cake.

The actress, singer and model was one of America’s most famous sex symbols and starred in several commercially successful films in the 50s.

Marilyn has been back in the spotlight this year with Simon Curtis’ My Week with Marilyn starring Michelle Williams an awards season favorite in Hollywood. The actress recently took home an Independent Spirit Award for her turn as the blonde bombshell.

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NBC's musical drama Smash also pays tribute to Marilyn, with Katharine McPhee and Megan Hilty channeling her a la Broadway.

“Fifty years after her death, Marilyn is still a major figure in world cinema, an eternal icon, whose grace, mystery and power of seduction remain resolutely contemporary,” the Festival said in a statement on Tuesday night, adding: The Festival is a temple of glamour and Marilyn is its perfect incarnation.”

The Bronx agency in Paris designed the poster based on a photo of the actress taken by Otto L. Bettmann. The 65th annual Festival de Cannes will run from May 16th – 27th.