Baby Norma Jean Mortenson later baptized as Norma Jean Baker, was born on the 1st of July 1926. Life was a cinderella story indeed for the worlds sexiest woman, A true rags to riches tale. Norma Jean's own mother was mentally unstable and young Norma Jean faced a childhood being in and out of orphanages and care homes. By the time it came to her sixteenth birthday Norma Jean was married to her next door neighbour a young man called Jimmy Dougherty. It seemed that life was sweet however life was not all rosey as Jimmy left to join the marines Norma busied herself with a job in a munitions factory just like a cliche movie she was discovered by photographer David Conover proclaiming her a photographer dream he helped her gain contacts & experience. Norma realising there was more to life than being a housewife and dreams of stardom were within her reach prompty began divorce proceeding and so Jimmy recieved his 'Dear John' letter.
Goodbye Norma Jean, Hello Marilyn Monroe Day's:
Norma Jean went under a radical transformation she dyed her hair a peroxide blonde and changed her name to 'Marilyn Monroe' Films like Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry a Millionaire showed Monroe as ditzy, dumb but always loveable an image often confused with her own personality. Monroe often felt frustrated with the typecasting of her in these roles. Her popularity was peaking as she was voted 'Best Newcomer' by Hollywoods Photoplay magazine this achievement showed the increasing attention focused on the blossoming blonde bombshell.
No More Sex Kitten Day's
It seemed fitting the nations sweetheart would marry the nations champion of baseball, Joe Di Maggio from the off, De Maggio was uncomfortable with the amount of attention bestowed upon his wife especially during there own honeymoon where Monroe stopped off in Korea to perform for troops. Although this certainly raised troops moral Di Maggio was seemingly less than impressed. During the scene for the 'Seven Year Itch' where Monroe famously stands on the subway grate with her skirt billowing up around her reporters at the time quoted Di Maggio to be furious. A seperation was announced shortly after.
Monroe herself wanted to shed the sex kitten image she projected so she took a break from tinseltown to study acting in the Lee Strasberg Actors' Studio in New York she wanted to become recognized as 'serious' actor not reliant on how she looked or submitting to sterotypical roles, her film 'Bus Stop' showed a Monroe in a more complex role.
Somethings Got To Give Day's
Although being beautiful and successful Monroe always had a fear of ending up like her mother, on set she often arrived late, forgot lines or sometimes never showed up at all this caused alot of tension on set there were also rumoured fallouts with actors. Monroe seemed to find brief happiness with playwright Arthur Miller who became husband number 3. Miller wrote even wrote the part of the character 'Roslyn Taber' in the film the 'Misfits' for her. However happiness often seemed to be short lived. Monroes dependancy on presciption drugs & another divorce she seemed to be in a crisi, Monroe was even dismissed from the set of 'Somethings Got To Give' for only turning up 12 out of a possible 35 days.
Monroe was found dead on August 5th 1962 she was only 36 years old. Monroe was reported in the past trying to commit suicide by overdose but phoning for help in her last days Monroe had seemed hopeful and upbeat it was a shock not only to those who had seen her those last days but the world also. The cause of her death was unconclusive and sparked many possible theories including ones involving the Kennedys.
Monroe is often described as being a 'star' I personally thinking of her more of a shooting star, her life was often tragic, but beautiful and over too soon.
