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Katelyn Long07 mins

The Iconic Life of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was one of the biggest movie stars and cultural icons of the 20th century. She was a blonde bombshell who dominated the silver screen.

Monroe starred in dozens of films since her debut in the 1940s, including “How to Marry a Millionaire,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “The Seven Year Itch,” and “Bus Stop.”

“The thing I’d like the most is to become a real actress,” Monroe said. “I realized more and more the responsibility. And it is a responsibility.”

In 1962, she died of a drug overdose at the age of 36.

Norma Jeane Mortenson, who later changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, was born in 1926 in Los Angeles.
Norma Jeane Mortenson, who later changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, was born in 1926 in Los Angeles.

Childhood was very difficult for Monroe. Her mother, Gladys Baker, lived in a mental health facility after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. She didn’t know her father.

As a teen, she lived at an orphanage and then with a series of foster families.
Childhood was very difficult for Monroe. Her mother, Gladys Baker, lived in a mental health facility after being diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. She didn’t know her father.

As a teen, she lived at an orphanage and then with a series of foster families. The place where young Marilyn felt happy and safe was at the movies. “I watched all kinds of movies like ‘Cleopatra’ with Claudette Colbert and I’d see it over and over and over and over again,” she said.

When Monroe was 16 years old, she married her neighbor, Jim Dougherty, who she barely knew.
When Monroe was 16 years old, she married her neighbor, Jim Dougherty, who she barely knew. The marriage lasted four years.

When Monroe was 16 years old, she married her neighbor, Jim Dougherty, who she barely knew. The marriage lasted four years. This was the idea of her foster mother, Grace McKee. “Grace arranged it. She and her husband were going to West Virginia, and they were going to put me in a home, or I could marry this boy who was 21,” she said.

At 19 years old, Monroe tried her luck with the Blue Book Model Agency.
At 19 years old, Monroe tried her luck with the Blue Book Model Agency. “Norma Jeane looked like the girl next door,” said Emmeline Snively, “and I thought I could make her into something quite marketable in a short length of time.”

In 1947, Monroe signed a contract with 20th Century Fox. She went to the studio every day doing photo shoots or taking acting classes. According to casting director Ben Lyons, “I said, ‘Why do you work so hard? The other kids that are under contract, I call sometimes at 11:00, 12:00, they’re still sleeping from being out the night before.’ She said, ‘I work hard because one day, maybe opportunity will knock, and I want to be prepared.’

The head of Columbia Pictures insisted Monroe make big changes to her look before he'd cast her in a movie.
The head of Columbia Pictures insisted Monroe make big changes to her look before he’d cast her in a movie. This is when she transformed into a platinum blonde.

The transformative changes brought her significant success. Within a month of signing with Columbia Pictures, 21-year-old Monroe landed her first starring role as a burlesque dancer in a low-budget musical, “Ladies of the Chorus.”

Monroe starred in several musicals, including a famous nightclub performance.
Monroe starred in several musicals. Picture here, she’s taking singing lessons with jazz musician Phil Moore at the Mocambo, the famous West Hollywood nightclub, in 1948.

Monroe continued to establish her career throughout the 1940s and 1950s, starring in several notable films. By the time the 1950s rolled around, she had become a household name, even gracing the cover of “Playboy” in 1953. Her influence on cinema and culture remains significant.

Monroe is seen with singer Ella Fitzgerald at the Tiffany Club in Hollywood.
Monroe is seen with singer Ella Fitzgerald at the Tiffany Club in Hollywood, California, in 1954. “My very favorite person, and I love her as a person as well as a singer,” she said.

Her beauty and charisma made her a beloved icon, but Monroe also faced personal struggles and demons. In her later years, she aimed to be seen as a serious artist, distancing herself from the “blonde bombshell” stereotype.

In a photoshoot with Redbook magazine, Monroe positioned herself as an everyday kind of girl.
In a photoshoot with Redbook magazine, Monroe posed by the subway in Grand Central Station in New York, positioning herself as an everyday kind of girl.

The culmination of Monroe’s journey as an actress, singer, and icon left an indelible mark on Hollywood and beyond. She remains an enduring symbol of beauty and resilience.

President John F. Kennedy and Monroe on the President's 45th birthday.
President John F. Kennedy, US Attorney General Robert Kennedy, and Monroe on the President’s 45th birthday. Monroe flew to New York to sing him a very erotic version of ‘Happy Birthday.’

In conclusion, Marilyn Monroe’s legacy lives on as one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century, influencing generations of artists and captivating audiences worldwide with her talent and story.


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