Despite the media’s portrayal of Marilyn Monroe as stunning, sophisticated, and legendary, it is important to acknowledge that these representations may not fully convey her true nature. In reality, Monroe endured a difficult childhood that had long-lasting impacts on her life. Nevertheless, she continues to be an incredibly influential figure of the 20th century and is widely recognized as an iconic sex symbol.
Marilyn Monroe, originally known as Norma Jean Mortensen, was born on June 1st 1926. Her mother, Gladys Monroe, suffered from mental instability and her father was absent from her life. After her birth, Norma Jean was placed in foster care. However, at the age of 7, her mother reclaimed her custody. Unfortunately ,shortly after, Gladys Monroe was diagnosed with clinical insanity and committed to a psychiatric hospital.
As a result, Norma Jean went on to be raised in various foster homes, two of which she experienced sexual assault before turning 12 years old.
When she turned16, she found a way to escape her life as a foster child.
Norma Jean married James Dougherty, a 21-year-old air-crafter, despite not loving him. While James went off to war, Norma had to live with her mother-in-law as was customary for army wives at that time. In 1944, while working at a parachute factory, she was discovered and received an offer to become a model which resulted in her appearing on numerous magazine covers. Realizing that life held more than just being a young housewife, Norma Jean divorced James in 1946 and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe. This decision marked the beginning of her journey towards pursuing an acting career.
Initially, she started off with minor parts in films like “Love Happy” and “All about Eve”. However, in 1953, she achieved fame by landing larger roles in movies such as “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” and “How to Marry a Millionaire”. During that same year, she initiated a relationship with Yankees baseball player Joe Dimaggio, which was adored by the entire nation. The following year, they eloped but unfortunately divorced after only 8 months, deeply affecting people nationwide. Subsequently, her prominence waned as she starred in leading roles in movies like “The Seven Year Itch” and “There’s no Business like Show Business”, partly due to her engagement in psychoanalysis.
In 1956, Marilyn Monroe achieved recognition for her role in the film “Bus Stop” and simultaneously tied the knot with Arthur Miller. However, their union came to an end in divorce four years later in 1960. During this time, Monroe faced struggles related to alcohol and drug abuse, as well as experienced two miscarriages that greatly impacted her overall well-being. She frequently showed up late on set and ultimately got dismissed from her final film project titled “Something’s Got to Give”, which unfortunately never made it to theaters. Sadly, just seventeen days after delivering a memorable rendition of “Happy Birthday” for John F. Kennedy, Monroe was found deceased at home due to an overdose of sleeping pills.
There is ongoing speculation surrounding the death of Marilyn Monroe at 36 years old. While some believe it was a suicide, others reject this idea and propose alternative theories. Conspiracies suggest she had extramarital relationships with both John F. Kennedy and Robert Kennedy. Throughout her successful acting career, which lasted for over 16 years, Marilyn starred in a total of 29 films. Surprisingly, she released 24 of these films within her first 8 years in the industry. Today, Marilyn Monroe is universally recognized as an exceptional actress. Despite numerous attempts to portray or imitate her in movies and magazines, none can ever replicate her unmatched talent.
