Pop star Pixie Lott wowed West End audiences on Saturday as she made her stage debut as Marilyn Monroe in Who Killed Marilyn? at the Emerald Theatre.
The 35-year-old singer took to the London stage in an off-the-shoulder white satin dress, a platinum blonde wig, and fire engine red lipstick to channel the late American screen star.
Lott's outfit paid homage to Monroe's famous look, featuring a bleached bob hair style and a gown inspired by the iconic dress Monroe wore in the 1955 film The Seven Year Itch.
Speaking about taking on the role, Lott described playing the Hollywood legend as a dream come true.
"I am absolutely thrilled to be stepping into the iconic shoes of Marilyn Monroe for Who Killed Marilyn?" Lott said. "I have always loved Marilyn, she is such a fascinating, timeless legend, and bringing her complex story to life on this beautiful stage and being her every night is an absolute dream come true for me."
"I can't wait for audiences to experience the mystery, the glamour, and the raw emotion we will be pouring into this incredible play," the singer added.
Staging the Life and Death of Marilyn Monroe
Written by Sharleen Cooper Cohen and directed by Philip Wm. McKinley, the new production sets out to examine the woman behind the legend by revisiting both her life and her tragic death.
Monroe was found dead at her Los Angeles home in the early hours of August 5, 1962, at age 36. Her death was officially ruled a probable suicide caused by a barbiturate overdose.
The production leans into conspiracy theories that have surrounded Monroe's passing for more than 60 years. These range from claims that she was murdered over alleged affairs with President John F Kennedy and his brother Robert Kennedy, to theories involving an organised crime mob cover-up.
President John F Kennedy served as the 35th President of the United States from 1961 until his assassination in 1963, while his younger brother Robert Kennedy served as United States Attorney General. Speculation surrounding Monroe's relationship with the political dynasty has endured in popular culture for decades.
Cast and West End Co-Stars
Lott performs alongside a seasoned West End cast in the production. Actor Benjamin Dilloway co-stars as Monroe's second husband, the acclaimed playwright Arthur Miller.
Miller was one of America's most prominent 20th-century dramatists, known for classic plays such as Death of a Salesman and The Crucible. He was married to Monroe from 1956 until their divorce in 1961.
Who Killed Marilyn? is scheduled to run at the Emerald Theatre in London until October 29.
Pixie Lott's Return to the West End
The production marks Lott's second foray into West End theatre. She shot to fame at age 18 in 2009 when her debut single Mama Do (Uh Oh, Uh Oh) reached number one in the UK charts.
In 2016, Lott made her West End debut playing Holly Golightly in a stage adaptation of Breakfast at Tiffany's, earning positive reviews for her performance. The story originated from Truman Capote's 1958 novella.
The mother-of-two has also returned to the music charts this summer with her new single Dance Like No One's Watching. Lott has been married to model Oliver Cheshire since 2022, and the couple share two sons.
Fascination with Hollywood's Golden Era
Lott has long expressed a fascination with Monroe and the glamour of vintage Hollywood. In 2016, she revealed during a quick-fire question round with Harper's Bazaar that she longed for the era before digital technology.
At the time, Lott explained that she preferred how celebrities in earlier decades were able to retain a sense of mystery because their lives were not broadcast across the internet. She admitted she would love to be stuck in a lift with Monroe for that reason.
"I feel like she has so many secrets," Lott told Harper's Bazaar in 2016. "Back in those days the stars weren't as accessible. There wasn't Instagram or Twitter and you wouldn't know what they were doing."
