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About Marilyn Monroe

Sarah Toovey : 14 March 2006

Marilyn Monroe, Born Norma Jeane Mortenson (baptised her mother's name of Baker as her father's identity was undetermined) 1st June 1926 in Los Angeles went on to become the undisputed beauty icon for the fifties. But she was so much more than the sex goddess she was known so well for.

Norma Jeane grew to be 5"5 inches tall and her weight varied between 115 and 120 lbs, which wuld today be considered Plus Size!

Her vulnerability was seen to be an additional attraction in combination with a wide-eyed innocence and blatant sensuality whe was bound for success and to be remembered without any doubt as one of the icons of the 20th Century.

After spending her childhood being passed from pillar to post, foster homes and orphanages and family friends, she eventually got married at 16 years old to Jimmy Dougherty, her boyfriend of 6 months and a 21 year old neighbour.

After her husband was sent to the South Pacific in 1944 with the Merchant Marines, his 18 year old bride began work in a munitions factory in California before photographer David Conover of Yank magazine discovered her and sent her up for other modeling jobs too.

Marilyn was a natural and amazingly photogenic, her sensuality oozing through the camera, she started out modelling bathing suits and became a pin-up and glamour model for many popular magazines before hitting the big time with stardom on the silver screen just after her divorce from Jimmy in 1946.

She was crowned 'Miss California Artichoke Queen' in 1947!

She became a platinum blonde, took her grandmother's surname Mornoe and started using the name Marilyn...although Marilyn Monroe was not legally her name until 23rd February 1956...

1953 was a good year as Marilyn was voted Best New Actress of 1953, named 'The Most Advertised Girl in the World' by the Advertising Association of the West, before marrying, in January 1953 baseball superstar Joe DiMaggio, her two year companion. In December 1953 she was PlayBoy 'Sweetheart' of the Month.

Unfortunately the fame and Marilyn's image haunted her second marriage and Marilyn and Joe DiMaggio finally divorced remaining close friends.

In 1955 Marilyn, in her effort to cast off her shallow blonde image started to study under Lee Strasberg at his New York City Actor's Studio before setting up her own motion picture company Marilyn Monroe Productions, the films Bus Stop and The Prince and the ShowGirl were produced by her new company.

Playwright Arthur Miller met Marilyn through Lee Strasberg and the couple married the 29th June 1956 only for their marriage to end in January 1961.

Marilyn was nominated for 'Best Foreign Actress' for the 1956 British Academy Award for her role in the Seven Year Itch.

In 1959 Marilyn won extra recognition for her versatility with a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy for her role in Some Like it Hot.

Marilyn was named Female World Film Favourite at the 1962 Golden Globes.

On the 5th August 1962 Marilyn Monroe died in her sleep in Brentwood, California, stunning cinematographers, undeed her death shook the world. 3 days later, on the 8th August 1962, Marilyn's funeral took place and she was laid to eternal rest in the Corridor of Memories, #24 at Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles.

Marilyn was named 'Number One Sex Star of the 20th Century' by Playboy magazine in 1999 and 'Sexiest Woman of the Century' by People Magazine in the same year.

Marilyn completed 30 films during her career, leaving one - Something's Got to Give, incomplete...

Filmography

1947 The Shocking Miss Pilgrim
1948 Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay!
1948 Dangerous Years
1949 Ladies of the Chorus
1950 A Ticket to Tomahawk
1950 Right Cross
1950 The Fireball
1950 Love Happy
1950 The Asphalt Jungle
1950 All About Eve
1951 Love Nest
1951 Let's Make it Legal
1951 Hometown Story
1951 As Young as you Feel
1952 O.Henry's Full House
1952 Monkey Businee
1952 Clash By Night
1952 We're Not Married!
1952 Don't Bother to Knock
1953 Niagara
1953 Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
1953 How to Marry a Millionaire
1954 River of No Return
1955 The Seven Year Itch
1956 Bus Stop
1957 The Prince and the ShowGirl
1959 Some Like it Hot
1960 Let's Make Love
1961 The MisFits
1962 Something's Got to Give (incomplete)

A selection to buy from Amazon UK

Some Like It Hot - Special Edition [1959]
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes [1953]
The Asphalt Jungle [1950]
The Misfits [1961]
How To Marry A Millionaire [1953]
The Prince And The Showgirl [1957]
Ladies Of The Chorus [1949]
Hometown Story [1951]
Monkey Business [1952]
Bus Stop [1956]
Don't Bother To Knock [1953]

A selection to buy from Amazon US

Some Like It Hot (Special Edition)
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
River of No Return
How To Marry A Millionaire
The Asphalt Jungle
Bus Stop
Some Like It Hot
The Prince and the Showgirl
Clash by Night
Home Town Story: Marilyn Monroe
Some Like It Hot

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