Marilyn Monroe

“I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I never had belonged to anything or anyone else.” Marilyn Monroe was an American actress who became a global sex symbol and pop culture icon in the 1950s. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she endured a troubled childhood, with her mother often institutionalized and Norma Jeane living with various foster families. She briefly married in 1942 but divorced soon after World War II, later becoming a popular model. In 1946, she signed a short-term contract with Twentieth Century-Fox, adopting the name Marilyn Monroe. Her breakthrough came in 1950 with minor roles that garnered attention, and she became a rising star with films like Niagara (1953) and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Monroe’s career skyrocketed, and she became one of the most famous actresses of her time. She studied acting with Lee Strasberg and began to showcase her comedic talents in films like The Seven Year Itch (1955). Marilyn’s marriage to playwright Arthur Miller in 1956 marked a brief retirement from acting, but she returned for critically acclaimed roles in Some Like It Hot (1959) and The Misfits (1961). She struggled with personal issues and her career suffered. In 1962, she was fired from Something’s Got to Give after numerous absences and a rumored affair with President John F. Kennedy, adding to the intrigue surrounding her life. Monroe died of a barbiturate overdose in 1962, with her death ruled a probable suicide. Despite her tragic end, her legacy as a cultural icon endures, with her films grossing over $200 million and her complex image as both a glamorous star and a sensitive, vulnerable woman becoming symbolic of the pressures of fame.