“I am good, but not an angel. I do sin, but I am not the devil. I am just a small girl in a big world trying to find someone to love.”— Marilyn Monroe
Monroe was born, Norma Jeane Mortenson, in June 1926. Her father was unknown and she was baptized as Norma Jeane Baker; she spent many years in foster homes because of her family situation.
Monroe married Jimmy Dougherty, in 1942. When he left to the South Pacific to fight in the Second world War, she joined a local munitions factory in Burbank, California. It was here that Marilyn got her first big break. Photographer David Conover, was covering the munitions factory to show women at work. He was struck by the beauty and photogenic nature of Norma, and he used her in many of her shots. This enabled her to start a career as a model and she was soon featured on the front of many magazine covers.
1946 was a pivotal year for Marilyn, she divorced her young husband and changed her name from the boring Norma Baker to the more glamorous Marilyn Monroe (after her grandma). She took drama lessons and got her first movie contract with Twentieth Century Fox. Her first few films were low key, but, it gained her more prominent roles in films such as All About Eve, Niagara and later Gentleman Prefer Blondes and How To Marry A Millionaire.
By now these film roles had thrust her into the global limelight. She was an iconic figure of Hollywood glamour and fashion. She was an epitome of sensuality, beauty and effervescence and was naturally photogenic.
In 1954, she married baseball star Joe DiMaggio, a friend of over 2 years. They were later to divorce, but they remained close friends.
She tried to move beyond the 'blonde bombshell' typecasting and set up her own movie production. She was awarded a golden globe award for her role in 'Some Like It Hot'
Tragically, she died early from an overdose of barbiturates in 1962 aged just 36.
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