Marilyn Monroe: The Most Beautiful Hollywood Belle Ever

Marilyn Monroe: The Most Beautiful Hollywood Belle Ever

Marilyn Monroe

Introduction:

Marilyn Monroe was an American film actress, model, and singer who became an international symbol of the femme fatale, and is considered a cultural icon. She was a leading lady in Hollywood films of the 1950s and 1960s. She became an international sensation with the release of her first film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. She became one of the most widely recognized female figures of the twentieth century and a symbol of female independence. Over the course of her career, she was named the top box-office draw and the world’s top female star in 1957 and 1958.

Birth and Early Life:

The story of Monroe’s life and career is complex and fascinating. She was born Norma Jean Mortenson in Los Angeles, California, on May 1, 1926. Norma Jeane was named after her mother, Norma, and her aunt, Jeane. As a child, Norma Jeane was often called Jean, most notably by her father. She was the only child of Gladys Pearl (née MacRae), a waitress, and Martin Edward Mortenson, a truck driver. Norma’s father was of Norwegian descent and her mother was of Scottish and Irish ancestry. At a young age, Norma was exposed to show business as her father performed in local theaters.

Education:

Norma’s family was poor, and her elementary education was limited. In effect, Marilyn Monroe’s childhood school system taught her almost nothing about her native, state of California, and of U.S.A. At the age of two, Norma Jeane met the man who would later become her first husband, James Dougherty, while he was playing her grandfather in The Mummy. Norma’s father believed that she was the reincarnation of his beloved mother. She began appearing in small roles at the age of three, and by the age of five she was performing on stage.

She studied dance with Doris Humphrey, and then began dancing with dancing instructor Jack Cole, who introduced her to tap dancing, ballroom dancing, and the ballet. She studied acting with Lee Strasberg, and also took lessons with Lee’s friend, Stella Adler.

Monroe’s Mother:

In 1934, Marilyn Monroe’s mother suffered a nervous breakdown. She was diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia. She was sent to a rest home and stayed there for many a days. As her condition worsened, ultimately she was handed over to the Metropolitan Mental Hospital. For the rest of her life she could not get out of her illness completely. Under such circumstances, a gentleman, Grace Goddard took the responsibility of  Monroe and her mother.

Marital Life:

The first marriage of Monroe took place in the year 1942. She got married with James Dougherty, son of one her neighbours, a gentleman of twenty one years. Actually, Monroe was compelled to marry at that time to evade a legal complication. As a result, the first marriage did not last long and both got divorced after the second World War. She married Joe DiMaggio, a retired baseball player, in 1954. Unfortunately, this relationship lasted for nine months only, as she alleged her husband to be jealous and infuriated for her success. In 1956, she married famous playwright Arthur Miller. This time too, their marriage lasted for few years only and eventually divorced in 1961.

Acting Career:

Marilyn Monroe began her film career at the relatively young age of eighteen.

Marilyn Monroe was the highest-paid actress in the history of the motion picture industry. She was also one of the first celebrities to shun publicity and refuse to talk to the media, saying she wouldn’t share her story because it was too private.

During her five-year career, she starred in over thirty films, mostly as a darling woman and model for modern femininity. She was also an activist and symbol of the feminist movement, who fought for equal rights and opportunities for women in the workplace. Above all, she was a wife and mother, who kept her personal life private and often struggled with her fame.

Her initial notable works include:

Scudda-Hoo, Scuda-Hay (1948)

All About Eve   (1950)

Make it Legal (1951)

Love Nest (1951)

Clash by Night (1952)

Niagara (1953)

The above mentioned movie brought her world-wide fame and attracted the attention of  famous contemporaries movie critics. Further, she became a sensational actress through the following movies over time:

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

There’s No Business Like Show Business  (1954)

This phase had been most fruitful for Monroe. Her fame rose immensely during this period. She tried her skills in comedy also: Seven Year Itch was published in 1955 and Bus Stop in 1956. The movie Some Like it Hot (1959) earned her the reputation as a serious actress. Her last movie was The Misfits(1961). The movie was based on a drama with identical title penned by her the then husband Arthur Miller.

Controversies:

The actress, Marilyn Monroe, was one of the most famous women in the world, but not for the conventional reasons. Over the years, she became a central figure in entertainment as well as an icon of entertainment. Publicity surrounding Monroe was largely generated by her controversial personal life. Her first marriage to Joe DiMaggio ended in divorce, and although her marriage to Arthur Miller was initially a success, it was not without controversy. Marilyn Monroe reportedly began working for John F. Kennedy in the summer of 1953, well before he was elected president of the United States; moreover, she was allegedly having affair with him too. Some of the controversies surrounding Marilyn Monroe are well known. Others are just as intriguing but are less often mentioned, such as the circumstances that led to her death. Marilyn Monroe had a reputation for making provocative statements, and when reporters came calling, she always gave them an answer – she either defended herself or said something that sent them off on a wild goose chase.

Awards and Achievements:

Marilyn Monroe won a total of 12 academy awards, which was more than any other performer of her time. The most imitated female movie star, Monroe had a huge impact on American culture. She achieved worldwide fame in the 1950s with her appearance in the classic film, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Marilyn Monroe has continued to fascinate and inspire people. At the time of her passing, she was the highest paid actress in the world. She also held the title of “the first and only Superwoman,” the first woman to be the highest paid actress in history and the only person to have ever received three acting Academy Awards, including one for her performance in The Misfits in 1961, and a second for her performance in Something Else. She was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Academy Award in 1982.

Conclusion:

Monroe is perhaps the most famous of the great female stars or performers of the 1950s. Her life extended from 1926 until 1962. Actress Marilyn Monroe died on August 6th, 1962. She was only 36 years old. It was a life which was publicly documented by Hollywood’s leading photographers, including her longtime friend and confidante, Bert Stern, and the photographers who worked for Life magazine, such as Bruce Davidson. Monroe was cremated at Los Angeles County Morgue, and her ashes were later buried in St. John’s Cemetery. Marilyn Monroe was a film actress, model and icon. The world lost one of its most beloved and enduringly recognized cultural figures with her untimely death.

The Rise of Marilyn Monroe, with her famous smile, was a hard, rocky road to early fame. After years of struggle, Marilyn finally broke through to stardom with her first big film. Marilyn Monroe’s stellar acting career as well as her various relationships  have been the subject of much controversy in recent years. While much of her personal life has been revealed, her public image has been cloaked by a shroud of mystery and misinformation over the years.

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