Questions
What was Marilyn Monroe’s real name?
She was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles. She adopted the stage name Marilyn Monroe in August 1946.
How did she get the name Marilyn Monroe?
Ben Lyon at 20th Century-Fox picked “Marilyn” after Broadway star Marilyn Miller, and “Monroe” came from her mother’s maiden name.
Was she a natural blonde?
No. Her hair was naturally curly and brown, and it was straightened and dyed platinum blonde for her modeling career starting in 1945.
What was her childhood like?
It was difficult. She was placed in foster care, lived in orphanages and multiple homes, and found some stability with Grace Goddard’s aunt Ana Lower around age twelve.
Is it true she got married as a teenager?
Yes. At sixteen she married factory worker James Dougherty on June 19, 1942, reportedly to avoid returning to an orphanage after the family raising her could not relocate with her.
How did she start out before acting?
As a model. By early 1946 she had appeared on 33 magazine covers, including Pageant and U.S. Camera, sometimes using the pseudonym Jean Norman.
What films made her a star in 1953?
Niagara, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and How to Marry a Millionaire all came out that year and established her as a major box office draw.
What is the story behind the famous subway grate scene?
It was filmed for The Seven Year Itch (1955) on Lexington Avenue in Manhattan, and it reportedly drew nearly 2,000 spectators, becoming one of cinema’s most memorable moments.
Who did she marry?
She married factory worker James Dougherty in 1942, retired Yankees star Joe DiMaggio on January 14, 1954, and playwright Arthur Miller on June 29, 1956.
Did she start her own company?
Yes. After leaving Hollywood in November 1954 she founded Marilyn Monroe Productions with photographer Milton Greene, a move later called instrumental in collapsing the studio system.
Did she study serious acting?
She did. In 1955 she studied method acting under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in Manhattan and underwent psychoanalysis.
Did she ever win any acting awards?
Yes. She won a Golden Globe for Some Like It Hot (1959) and won the David di Donatello Award for Best Actress for The Prince and the Showgirl (1957), which also earned her a BAFTA nomination.
What was her last completed film?
The drama The Misfits (1961). She had an unfinished project called Something’s Got to Give at the time of her death.
How did she die?
She died on August 4, 1962, at age 36 from a barbiturate overdose at her Los Angeles home, and her death was ruled a probable suicide.
What is her lasting legacy?
Her films grossed about $200 million by her death in 1962, and the American Film Institute ranked her the sixth greatest female screen legend from Hollywood’s Golden Age.
