Marilyn Monroe: Icon of Film History and Hollywood

From Origins to Hollywood: Marilyn Monroe’s Rise in American Cinema

Norma Jeane Mortenson was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, and died on August 5, 1962, at her residence in Brentwood. Her film career spanned from 1945 to 1962, during which she became one of Hollywood’s most recognizable figures, despite never receiving an Oscar nomination.
Her career began with minor uncredited roles, reaching prominence with films such as Dangerous Years (1947) and The Asphalt Jungle (1950) by John Huston, which highlighted her presence on the big screen. In the same year, she appeared in All About Eve by Joseph L. Mankiewicz, playing a supporting role that showed interpretive skills beyond expectations.

The 1950s: Commercial Success and Films That Defined an Era

1953 was a turning point with three films that solidified her status as a sex symbol: Niagara by Henry Hathaway, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes by Howard Hawks, and How to Marry a Millionaire by Jean Negulesco. The latter film earned over five million dollars, confirming Monroe as one of the most profitable actresses in the Hollywood studio system.
Her collaboration with Billy Wilder produced two significant titles: The Seven Year Itch (1955), known for the iconic scene of the dress lifted by the subway ventilation, and Some Like It Hot (1959), in which she played Sugar Kane Kowalczyk. The latter film received six Oscar nominations, but Monroe was not among the nominees.

Study and Artistic Growth: The Period with Arthur Miller and The Actors Studio

In 1956, she married playwright Arthur Miller and moved to New York to study acting at The Actors Studio with Lee Strasberg. In 1957, she starred in The Prince and the Showgirl alongside Laurence Olivier, who also directed the film. Tensions arose on set due to differing acting methods between the two actors.

Final Films and End of Career

Her last completed film was The Misfits (1961), directed by John Huston and written by Arthur Miller, in which she played Roslyn Taber. The film was a commercial failure upon release but was re-evaluated in later years. Clark Gable, her co-star, died shortly after filming ended, and Monroe died the following year.

Awards and Recognition: The Paradox of Oscar Absences

Despite her fame, Monroe never received an Oscar nomination, while contemporaries like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn were awarded. She won a Golden Globe in 1960 as Best Actress in a Comedy or Musical for Some Like It Hot. Critics at the time tended to undervalue comedic roles and those emphasizing sensuality.

Significant Films and Unfinished Projects

Other important films include Bus Stop (1956), which earned her a BAFTA nomination, and Let’s Make Love (1960), the last released during her lifetime. At the time of her death, she was working on Something’s Got to Give, directed by George Cukor, which was never completed due to health issues and absences.

Centennial Celebrations and Future Prospects

In 2026, on the centenary of her birth, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in Los Angeles opened an exhibition dedicated to Marilyn Monroe. In Palm Springs, a new Guinness World Record was set for the largest gathering of Marilyn Monroe lookalikes. No film projects directly related to her are currently in production or planned. The last significant biopic was Blonde (2022), directed by Andrew Dominik and distributed by Netflix.