One of the most celebrated and enduring icons of all times – Marilyn Monroe – was not only an actress. She was a living legend and remained a legend even after death. To millions of people all over the world she became an everlasting beauty and sex symbol. Marilyn, whose real name was Norma Jeane Mortenson, lived a short but very bright life. Like any woman, she wanted to love and to be loved. She wanted to prove to directors that she was able of something more than just demonstration of beautiful body. It seemed a miracle, how fast she became a film star, but behind the border lights there was a real life tragedy. Marilyn Monroe’s body may be buried, but her beauty continues to live today and for years to come.
The blonde that conquered the world, American immortal sex symbol, all men’s living dream, one of the most famous Hollywood icons of the twentieth century This is how Marilyn Monroe is usually said and written about. Her overwhelming life story made thousands of women all over the world dye their hair blonde, apply provocative red lipstick and draw a “Marilyn’s” beauty spot on the cheek. But behind the bright life of a cinema star there is a tragic story of a woman – a woman gathered round the multiple admirers, rolled in luxury, but still unhappy.
On the 1st of June 1926 at around 9.30 am in Los Angeles was born Norma Jeane Mortenson – a future actress, singer and one of the most famous sex symbols of all times. It is believed that mother of the future cinema star, who worked at the cinema laboratory, liked to look at frames with Norma Talmadge, and named her daughter after the actress. As the father’s identity was unknown, the child’s name was soon changed to Norma Jeane Baker. Add to that, her mother turned out to be mentally unstable, so the girl was placed in the foster home of Albert and Ida Bolender. They were a family with several other adopted children and only one of their own. Albert and Ida were believers in God, and they expected children to show good manners, avoid dancing, smoking and behave modestly. Norma did not quite match these expectations. Later, she will confess: “I dreamed that I was standing up in church without any clothes on, and all the people there were lying at my feet on the floor of the church, and I walked naked, with a sense of freedom, over their prostrate forms, being careful not to step on anyone” (Marilyn Monroe, 2007).
At the age of 16, she met a neighbor boy, James Dougherty, who became her first husband. When James was sent to the Pacific with the merchant marine, Norma began working on an assembly line at an aeronautical plant. It was there that army photographer David Conover took some photos of her for the army magazine. He told her that she was very photogenic and advised to pursue modeling. And she did exactly what he said. By spring of 1945, she was quickly becoming known as a "photographers dream" and had appeared on 33 covers of national magazines (About Marilyn Monroe).
The marriage did not last long – Norma divorced in 1946, later commenting: “My marriage didn't make me sad, but it didn't make me happy either” (About Marilyn Monroe). This very year she will sign her first contract with Twentieth Century-Fox Studios as Marilyn Monroe. She found her real name too awkward, and with the help of her agent the new name was chosen. Next step was to change hair colour, and Marilyn turned blonde without regret, as the researches of that time showed that men preferred fair hair women. This first cinema experience was not successful – Marilyn was too shy to show herself off in front of the cameras, and the direction of the film studio refused to prolong her contract.
Marilyn then had to work as a photo model, still dreaming of a career of an actress and spending all money on courses of acting technique.
Finally, the young pretty girl was noticed. She started to obtain small roles in movies, and became widely recognized after the film “Niagara” in 1953. Marilyn started to live life she always wanted. Women were imitating her and men were crazy about her. Later, Marilyn said: "I knew I belonged to the public and to the world, not because I was talented or even beautiful, but because I had never belonged to anything or anyone else" (Mars J., Books A., 1995).
In 1954 she made a new attempt for a family life and married baseball legend Joe DiMaggio. While filming the famous dress- blowing scene for the “Seven Year Itch”, tensions began to grow between Marilyn and Joe (Kidder C.). New husband turned out to be very jealous towards men surrounding Marilyn, who said: “The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up” (International Herald Tribune, 1984). It was the end of another unhappy marriage, and the couple divorced the same year.
In pursuit of becoming a serious actress, Marilyn returned to New-York, where she joined the Actors Studio. There she met playwright Arthur Miller, who became her third and last husband. This marriage lasted the longest of all – four and a half years. They divorced in January 1961.
In 1962 Marilyn was supposed to be filmed in “Something’s Got To Give”, but missed many days due to horrible sinus infection. At this time she was asked to sing “Happy Birthday” to President Kennedy, which became a reason for a studio to fire her.
Few months later, studio changed their mind and re-hired Marilyn. But before she started to work on the film, she was found dead in her Brentwood home on the 5th of August 1962.
Supposedly, Marilyn Monroe died overdosed on sleeping pills, but the real circumstances of her death have been a subject of conjecture. She was only 36 years old, but accomplished more in her lifetime than many could dream of. Many were jealous of her career, celebrity and beauty. Little knew that life she dreamed of did not give her what she wanted the most – home, family, loving husband and children.
Marilyn Monroe was unique – her smile, look, hair style, walk, manners were and remain an example to follow for many girls and women all over the world.
Her childlike innocence still touch people’s hearts, and she still has a great influence on many people. There are around 300 books, published works and several films about Marilyn Monroe.
References:
Marilyn Monroe. Biography. (2007). Retrieved from http://www.personal.psu.edu/gnf5001/biography.htm
About Marilyn Monroe. (n.d.). Modern American Poetry. Retrieved from http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/poets/g_l/grahn/monroe.htm
Kidder C. (2003). Marilyn Monroe: Cover To Cover. Krause Publications.
International Herald Tribune (5 October 1984). Retrieved from http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Marilyn_Monroe
Mars J., Books A. (1995). Marilyn Monroe. Andrews McMeel Publishing.
