Once upon a time in Hollywood, Marilyn Monroe was the brightest star: A paradoxical combination of sex appeal and childlike innocence, the blonde bombshell captivated audiences with her “wiggle.” But all she really wanted was to be taken serious as an actress. Her talent shone through the typecasting, launching a meteoric rise from “cheesecake queen” to box-office smash in 1953. That year, she broke out with three of her most acclaimed performances in Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire. With nowhere to go but up, sadly, Marilyn’s troubles dismantled her dreams, and ultimately ended her life in 1962. “Fame has a special burden,” she revealed in her final interview, with Life magazine. “I don’t mind being burdened with being glamorous and sexual. But what goes with it can be a burden.”
MARILYN Her Untold Story
MARILYN MONROE
AMERICAN IDOL • Marilyn Monroe is one of the most photographed women in history. Here’s a look back at some of the most iconic moments in the Hollywood superstar’s life.
LITTLE Girl LOST • Her childhood was fraught with chaos, as she bounced between foster homes, even an orphanage, as her mother battled mental illness.
WHO WAS HER FATHER? • In 2022, DNA testing confirmed the mystery man’s identity.
PINUP QUEEN • By 1946, Norma Jean had appeared on the covers of more than 30 magazines.
THE MAKING OF Marilyn • A blonde version of bombshell Rita Hayworth, and named after a Broadway actress, the starlet was marketed by 20th Century-Fox as a “junior Lana Turner.”
GOODBYE, NORMA JEAN • How the aspiring movie star enhanced her naturally beautiful face over the years.
UNWANTED ATTENTION • The blond starlet caught the eye of a man who later tried to break into her home.
BLONDE Ambition • Determined to make it in Hollywood, the starlet turned bit parts into leading roles in just a few short years—and by 1952, she was crowned the new “It Girl.”
THE TALK OF HOLLYWOOD • Marilyn’s every move was reported in the gossip columns.
HAUNTED BY THE PAST • Just as her star was on the rise, a nude photo scandal threatened it all.
The Year THAT CHANGED IT ALL • In 1953, Marilyn starred in three of the most successful films of her career: Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire.
DRAMA Queen • Not content to be a sex symbol, Marilyn took a year off from Hollywood in 1955 to study the art of acting in New York City—but did it do more harm than good?
Golden AGE • From 1956 to 1961, Marilyn Monroe was in the prime of her career, starring in films that earned her critical and commercial success, even a Golden Globe award.
MARILYN MONROE PRODUCTIONS • Fed up with the studio system, the actress founded her own production company.
OUT OF THE SPOTLIGHT • In 1957, she took another hiatus from Hollywood to focus on marriage and motherhood.
LOVERS & Friends • A look back at Marilyn’s two high-profile husbands, Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller, as well as her romances with Marlon Brando, Frank Sinatra and Charlie Chaplin Jr.
BEST Dressed • Whether she was on-screen or off, the timeless fashion icon always made a statement.
BEAUTY SECRETS • Discover the movie star’s own tips and tricks, from head to toe.
THE Hollywood SCENE • All of Marilyn’s favorite hot spots—Ciro’s, Cocoanut Grove, Roosevelt Hotel, Formosa Cafe—and the stars with whom she painted the town red.
STAR POWER • Marilyn helped singer Ella Fitzgerald book the Mocambo Club.
FALLING Star • With her personal and professional lives at a crossroads, Marilyn was fighting a losing battle against her depression and dependency on prescription pills.
FUTURE FILMS • The...
