Did you know that the world’s most celebrated actress, Marilyn Monroe, grew up in a series of foster homes? Did you know that her mother was mentally unstable and no one is really sure who her father was? Did you know she got married at the tender age of 16 to avoid being sent back to foster care? It’s true, but hard to believe that such a beloved icon came from such a troubled background.
Today marks the 47th anniversary of Monroe’s death, making it the perfect time to honor her memory with a look back at her hard work and the struggles she overcame to follow a dream. Before Marilyn Monroe was discovered, she was Norma Jean Baker. When her first husband went off to serve in WWII, she worked in a factory, fireproofing radioplanes and inspecting parachutes. She was discovered there when a photographer snapped a photo of her for a piece in Yank magazine. He encouraged her to go into modeling.
Monroe dreamed of being on the big screen since was a little girl watching Jean Harlow films. But breaking into the industry wasn’t an easy endeavor for young Norma Jean. In the early days, money was scarce and she ended up posing for nude photographs in order to pay her rent. She eventually lightened her hair color (she was naturally brunette) and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe.
She had small roles in two films at the age of 21 and the following year she began working with an acting coach to develop her craft. She kept at it in the years that followed, accepting small roles in movies as she tried to build a name for herself. Her perseverance began to pay off by age 24, when her agent landed her a seven-year contract with 20th Century Fox. Even though it was a good break for her, Monroe’s career didn’t take off right away. Instead, she spent the following years starring in minor films, facing rejections at auditions, and receiving poor reviews and harsh criticism for her overly sexual image.
During these years, something shocking was discovered about Marilyn: she had stage fright, a paralyzing fear that would eventually cause her to arrive late to set and infuriate directors. It’s been said that many crew members and fellow actors had to spend hours coaxing her out of her dressing room.
By age 27, Marilyn’s career finally began to pick up steam. She starred in the hit Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and was featured on the cover of the first issue of Playboy. A string of hit movies – including How To Marry a Millionaire and The Seven Year Itch – followed, rocketing Marilyn Monroe’s career to a new level. In the years leading up to her tragic and untimely death, Marilyn became a worldwide phenomenon. Even though she faced challenges throughout her career and private life, she never gave up on her dream and ultimately became one of the greatest legends of all time.
The May 1952 issue of True Experiences magazine says it all. It showed a smiling and wholesome Monroe beside a caption that read, “Do I look happy? I should — for I was a child nobody wanted. A lonely girl with a dream — who awakened to find that dream come true. I am Marilyn Monroe.”
Who are you?
