Monroe's performances in films such as "Bus Stop" (1956) and "Some Like It Hot" (1959) received acclaim, solidifying her status as a versatile actress.

She played the role of a young married woman who’s out to kill her husband assisted by her lover.

Later on, she also starred in the musical comedy Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953). Their marriage was marked by intense passion but was ultimately short-lived, largely due to Monroe’s demanding career and public scrutiny. The film became a hit movie in Britain but not in the United States.

In 1959, Marilyn starred in the comedy Some Like It Hot, with Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.

Renowned for her glamorous image and enchanting performances, she starred in several major films, including "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," "Some Like It Hot," and "The Misfits," grossing more than $200 million throughout her career. They married on June 29, 1956, in White Plains, New York. She was placed with foster parents Albert and Ida Bolender in Hawthorne as her mother was financially unprepared.

He was also the director and producer of the film.

Marilyn had faced controversies filming The Prince and the Showgirl for being absent and displaying erratic behavior which created a tense relationship with the crew. Gladys visited Marilyn every weekend when she was not at work.

By 1933, Gladys bought a small house in Hollywood and was able to live there with Marilyn.

By 1934, Gladys was diagnosed with schizophrenia and was eventually placed in a mental institution.

Marilyn had experienced a difficult childhood as she spent most of it in orphanages and foster homes.

In one of her foster homes, Marilyn experienced being sexually abused by one her guardians.

Later on in her childhood, she was adopted by Grace and Erwin “Doc” Goddard.

In a groundbreaking move, she founded her production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions, which allowed her greater creative control and profit-sharing potential. The couple took time off and travelled to Japan to spend their honeymoon. This movie was loved by both critics and audiences. She has inspired artists like Andy Warhol and Madonna.

She appeared in advertisements for brands such as Max Factor, Chanel, and Mercedes-Benz.

Monroe is still a cultural icon, meaning she is a very famous and important person in culture.

Images for kids

• A photo of Monroe taken by David Conover in mid-1944 at the Radioplane Company

• Monroe in a 1948 publicity photo

• Monroe in The Asphalt Jungle (1950), one of her earliest performances to gain attention from film critics

• Monroe with Keith Andes in Clash by Night (1952).

  Monroe never had any children of her own, a fact that added to the complexities of her life and relationships. On August 4, 1962, she died in her Los Angeles home after ingesting fatal amount of barbiturates.

  Below we delve into the troubled childhood, career, and achievements of Marilyn Monroe, one of the greatest icons of American popular culture:

  Marilyn Monroe: Quick Facts

  Full name – Norma Jeane Mortenson

  Birthdate and place – June 1, 1926; Los Angeles, California, United States

  Death date and place – August 4, 1962; Los Angeles, California, United States

  Died of – Sedative overdose

  Buried at – Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetry

  Mother: Gladys Pearl Baker

  Step siblings: Robert and Berniece

  Spouse – James Dougherty (1942-1946); Joe DiMaggio (1954-1955); Arthur Miller (1956-1961)

  Children – None

  AlsoKnownAs – Norma Jeane Baker

  Film debut – Dangerous Years (1947)

  Notable Awards and Honors – Golden Globe for Best Actress for the film Some Like It Hot (1959)

  Most Famousfilms – Dangerous Years (1947), Ladies of the Chorus (1948), The Asphalt Jungle (1950), All About Eve (1950), As Young as You Feel (1951), Monkey Business (1952), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes  (1953), Niagara (1953), Gentleman Prefer Blondes (1953), Bus Stop (1956), The Misfits (1961)

  Birth and foster homes

  On June 1, 1926, Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson to Gladys Pearl Baker.

  This movie became one of her biggest successes at the box office.

  When the studio did not want to change Monroe's contract, she started her own film production company in 1954. In 2008, the Library of Congress selected The Asphalt Jungle for preservation in the National Film Registry, describing the film as “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.

  As her reputation increased in Hollywood, Monroe became the recipient of several thousands of letters from fans, mostly her male audience.

  Eventually, she was discovered by a photographer.

• When Jim returned in 1946, Marilyn was already a successful model. Wilder still had very positive words to say about Monroe, stating that she was indeed a “real artist” who always gave out top-notch performance on set, even though she often forgot her lines.

  In spite of a number of damning personal scandals, there was still increased in her and her films.

  Monroe was described as very ambitious and dedicated to her profession, shooting more than 30 magazine covers by 1946.

  ** In 1946, she divorced her first husband James Dougherty, who was against her choice of profession.

  Marilyn Monroe’s acting career

  Monroe starring in John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

  Desiring more from her choice of profession, she stepped into the acting business and signed to an acting agency in 1946.

  1927