Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, was an American actress, model, and singer who became one of the most enduring and iconic figures in Hollywood history. Monroe's early life was marked by instability and hardships. She spent much of her childhood in foster homes and experienced a tumultuous upbringing.
In 1944, Monroe married at the age of 16 and soon began a career as a model. Her captivating beauty and photogenic presence led to numerous successful modeling assignments, including appearing on the cover of popular magazines. In 1946, she signed a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
Monroe's breakthrough role came in 1950 when she appeared in the film "The Asphalt Jungle." She gained further recognition with her performances in films like "All About Eve" (1950) and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953). Monroe's combination of beauty, sensuality, and comedic timing made her a beloved and highly sought-after actress.
During her career, Monroe starred in a string of successful films, including "Some Like It Hot" (1959), for which she received critical acclaim. However, she also faced personal struggles, including anxiety, depression, and a history of failed relationships. These challenges often affected her work, leading to occasional production delays and strained relationships with film studios.
Beyond her film career, Monroe also ventured into singing, releasing a few successful singles. Her rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" performed for President John F. Kennedy in 1962 remains one of her most famous performances.
Tragically, Marilyn Monroe's life was cut short when she died on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36. Her death was ruled as a probable suicide due to a drug overdose, although it has been the subject of much speculation and conspiracy theories.
Despite her untimely demise, Monroe's legacy endures. She continues to be an influential cultural figure, celebrated for her beauty, charisma, and talent. Monroe's impact on popular culture remains significant, and she is often remembered as an enduring symbol of glamour and femininity in the golden era of Hollywood.
In 1944, Monroe married at the age of 16 and soon began a career as a model. Her captivating beauty and photogenic presence led to numerous successful modeling assignments, including appearing on the cover of popular magazines. In 1946, she signed a contract with Twentieth Century-Fox and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
Monroe's breakthrough role came in 1950 when she appeared in the film "The Asphalt Jungle." She gained further recognition with her performances in films like "All About Eve" (1950) and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" (1953). Monroe's combination of beauty, sensuality, and comedic timing made her a beloved and highly sought-after actress.
During her career, Monroe starred in a string of successful films, including "Some Like It Hot" (1959), for which she received critical acclaim. However, she also faced personal struggles, including anxiety, depression, and a history of failed relationships. These challenges often affected her work, leading to occasional production delays and strained relationships with film studios.
Beyond her film career, Monroe also ventured into singing, releasing a few successful singles. Her rendition of "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" performed for President John F. Kennedy in 1962 remains one of her most famous performances.
Tragically, Marilyn Monroe's life was cut short when she died on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36. Her death was ruled as a probable suicide due to a drug overdose, although it has been the subject of much speculation and conspiracy theories.
Despite her untimely demise, Monroe's legacy endures. She continues to be an influential cultural figure, celebrated for her beauty, charisma, and talent. Monroe's impact on popular culture remains significant, and she is often remembered as an enduring symbol of glamour and femininity in the golden era of Hollywood.
quotes:
[on why her marriage to Joe DiMaggio didn't work] "I didn't want to give up my career, and that's what Joe wanted me to do most of all."
"I want to be a big star more than anything. It's something precious."
[on her favorite actress] "Jean Harlow was my idol."
"I'm not interested in money, I just want to be wonderful."
"In Hollywood a girl's virtue is much less important than her hairdo. You're judged by how you look, not by what you are. Hollywood's a place where they'll pay you a thousand dollars for kiss, and fifty cents for your soul. I know, because I turned down the first offer often enough and held out for the fifty."
"A sex-symbol becomes a thing, I just hate being a thing. But if I'm going to be a symbol of something I'd rather have it sex than some other things we've got symbols of."
"The truth is I've never fooled anyone. I've let people fool themselves. They didn't bother to find out who and what I was. Instead they would invent a character for me. I wouldn't argue with them. They were obviously loving somebody I wasn't. When they found this out, they would blame me for disillusioning them---and fooling them."
[on Frank Sinatra] "He is a man at the top of his profession and is a fine actor as well. You know, he got an Oscar for From Here to Eternity (1953). He has helped more people anonymously than anybody else. And the miserable press smears him with lies about his being involved with the Mafia and gangsters. And Frank just takes it."
[on Mae West] "A nice lady even though she turned down making a picture with me. That just shows how smart she is."
- Marilyn Monroe
trivia:
When she was told that she was not the star in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) she verbally said "Well whatever I am, I'm still the blonde."
Was close friends with singer Ella Fitzgerald and helped her rise in her musical career by arranging for her to sing in many upscale nightclubs some of which were segregated during the time of their friendship.
Monroe was a stutterer, a little known fact that was easily covered thanks to studio vocal coaches who provided her with diction lessons.
Her "Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress sold for $1,267,500.00, a world record for the most expensive piece of clothing ever sold, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Spent most of her early childhood in foster homes and orphanages because her mother was committed to a mental institution. Later, she lived with her mother's best friend, Grace McKee, and her family. McKee, a big fan of Jean Harlow, allowed her to wear make-up and curl her hair and, when she was 15, it was McKee who pierced her ears for her using a sewing needle. At 16, when McKee could no longer take care of her, she got married to avoid returning to the orphanage.
She tried 9 different shades of blonde hair color before settling on platinum blonde.
The dress Marilyn Monroe wore to serenade John F. Kennedy, on May 19, 1962 at his birthday celebration was so tight, that it had to be sewn onto her. She had to sit still for approximately an hour.
Learned to play the guitar for her role in River of No Return (1954) and the ukulele for her role in Some Like It Hot (1959).
Although she was perhaps the most famous actress of the 1950s decade, she never made more than $100,000 per picture upfront. Actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck were earning significantly more.
When budding actresses Shelley Winters and Marilyn were roommates in the late 1940s in Hollywood, Shelley said that one day she had to step out and asked Marilyn to "wash the lettuce" for a salad they were to share for dinner. When Shelley got back to the apartment, (Marilyn was apparently new to the art of cooking) had the leaves of lettuce in a small tub of soapy water and was scrubbing them clean. She had not heard of the phrase before either, or did not know it's true meaning.
Was close friends with singer Ella Fitzgerald and helped her rise in her musical career by arranging for her to sing in many upscale nightclubs some of which were segregated during the time of their friendship.
Monroe was a stutterer, a little known fact that was easily covered thanks to studio vocal coaches who provided her with diction lessons.
Her "Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress sold for $1,267,500.00, a world record for the most expensive piece of clothing ever sold, and is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Spent most of her early childhood in foster homes and orphanages because her mother was committed to a mental institution. Later, she lived with her mother's best friend, Grace McKee, and her family. McKee, a big fan of Jean Harlow, allowed her to wear make-up and curl her hair and, when she was 15, it was McKee who pierced her ears for her using a sewing needle. At 16, when McKee could no longer take care of her, she got married to avoid returning to the orphanage.
She tried 9 different shades of blonde hair color before settling on platinum blonde.
The dress Marilyn Monroe wore to serenade John F. Kennedy, on May 19, 1962 at his birthday celebration was so tight, that it had to be sewn onto her. She had to sit still for approximately an hour.
Learned to play the guitar for her role in River of No Return (1954) and the ukulele for her role in Some Like It Hot (1959).
Although she was perhaps the most famous actress of the 1950s decade, she never made more than $100,000 per picture upfront. Actresses such as Elizabeth Taylor and Barbara Stanwyck were earning significantly more.
When budding actresses Shelley Winters and Marilyn were roommates in the late 1940s in Hollywood, Shelley said that one day she had to step out and asked Marilyn to "wash the lettuce" for a salad they were to share for dinner. When Shelley got back to the apartment, (Marilyn was apparently new to the art of cooking) had the leaves of lettuce in a small tub of soapy water and was scrubbing them clean. She had not heard of the phrase before either, or did not know it's true meaning.
