The Legend Marilyn Monroe
Norma Jeane Mortenson
Born on the first of June in nineteen twenty-six as Norma Jeane Mortenson, Marilyn Monroe was an American singer, model and actress who became a major star in many motion pictures that are commercial successful during the fifties and the early sixties. Monroe began a career as a model after spending a lot of her days as a young girl in foster homes. This led to a nineteen forty six contract with 20th Century Fox with minor early film appearances. Her performance in All About Even and The Asphalt Jungle, were attention-getting and later, she landed the role as lead actor in Don’t Bother to Knock. For subsequent films, her persona as a ‘dumb blonde’ was used for an effect which was comic in films such as The Seven Year Itch, How to Marry a Millionaire and The Seven Year Itch.
Actors Studio
To make her range broader, Monroe studies at the Actors Studio and in Bus Stop her dramatic performance was commended by critics and garnered a nomination of a Golden Globe. Marilyn Monroe Productions, her production company gained a BAFTA Award after the release of The Prince and the Showgirl. For her performance in Some Like it Hot, she received a Golden Globe Award.
Marriages
Marilyn Monroe had three marriages, all ending in divorce. The last one was Arthur Miller, the previous one is Joe DiMaggio and the first one was to James Dougherty. Reportedly, she was married briefly to Rob Slatzer the writer and she allegedly had affairs with Marlon Brando, Robert Kennedy and John Kennedy. In her three marriages, she also suffered an ectopic pregnancy and 2 miscarriages.
Last Days
In the life of Marilyn, her last years were marked for being difficult to work with, a reputation for unreliability, personal problems and illness. Her death circumstances from a barbiturate overdose have been subjected to conjectures. Though a ‘probably suicide’ is the official classification, there was no ruling out for an accidental overdose. Later, she was ranked by the American Film Institute as the 6th all-time greatest female star. Following her death, decade after decade, she was cited as a cultural and pop icon and a quintessential sex symbol of America.
From Twentieth Century Fox to Columbia Pictures
In the year nineteen forty-seven, Monroe ended her contract with Twentieth Century Fox and met with Bruno Bernard, pin up photographer. At the Palm Springs Racquet Club where he photographed her, she met Johnny Hyde, talent agent from Hollywood. With Columbia Pictures, she signed a 6-month contract and was introduced to Natasha Lytess, head drama coach of the studio. For several years, Lytess became her coach for acting. Soon, low budget musical casts like Ladies of the Chorus included Monroe in main roles. Even with only moderate success enjoyed by the film, she had been critically reviewed as one of the bright spots of the film.
Last Few Public Appearances
On the nineteenth of May in nineteen sixty two, her last significant appearance in public was made. At a birthday party for JFK, she sang Happy Birthday Mr. President. Later the dress she wore was designed specifically for her and sold for one-point-twenty-six million USD in nineteen ninety-nine.