Marilyn+Monroe

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The 1950’s were a time of opportunity for a young movie star who was striving to make a name for herself. Marilyn Monroe is most commonly recognized to have been an accomplished actress, singer, model and top Hollywood icon and sex symbol of the 1950’s.
 * Marilyn Monroe**

Marilyn Monroe, originally Norma Jean Mortenson, was born on June 1st, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. She had rough and unhappy childhood, resulting from her mother, Gladys Baker, being diagnosis with mental depression and instability. Her mother was later admitted to a mental institution when she was only nine years old. Due to her mothers disorder, Marilyn was place in several orphanages throughout her childhood years until, she moved in with a family friend, Grace-McKee Goddard. When Grace was to be married, Marilyn was put in a foster home until 1937, when Grace took Marilyn once again. Unfortunately, when Grace’s husband was transferred over to the East Coast in 1942, Marilyn had to choose between a return to the orphanage or marriage. On June 19, 1942, Marilyn married 21-year old neighbor and plant worker, Jimmy Dougherty, whom she’d been dating for nearly six months. However in 1944, Jimmy was sent over seas in the Merchant Marines, which later led to a divorce on his return in June 1946.

Marilyn’s career started as a young model. Marilyn volunteered to work in factories to help with the war effort and was spotted by a photographer taking pictures of women contributions to the war. David Conover, the photographer, continued to take pictures of Marilyn who was later addressed as a “Photographers Dream”. Marilyn appeared on over 33 magazine covers by 1945. Pretty soon Norma Jean was given screen tests, a new look and even a new name, Marilyn Monroe. Marilyn started off acting as an insignificant character in minor films until her performance in a 1953 film, __//Niagara//__, sent her young and budding career plunging into stardom. Marilyn’s role in earned her lead roles in more eminent films such as __//Niagara,All about Eve, Monkey Business//____,__ __//Don’t Bother to Knock//____,__ __//Gentleman Prefer Blondes//__, and __//How to Marry a Millionaire//__. By 1955, Marilyn was tired of being known as the “shallow, ditsy and attractive blonde”. She wanted to become a serious actress and prove to the media and herself that she was more than just America’s ideal sex symbol and icon. In 1956, Marilyn started her own motion picture company, Marilyn Monroe Productions. Her company produced successful and popular movies such as, __//Bus Stop//__, and __//The Prince and the Showgir//____l__. In 1959, Marilyn received praise for her film, __//Some like it Hot//__ ,when she won the Golden Globe Award for best actress in a comedy.

After her brief second marriage with Yankee slugger, Joe Dimaggio, Marilyn was married a third time to playwright Arthur Miller. After Arthur wrote the play //Misfits//, containing a role composed especially for Marilyn, their short-lived marriage ended on January 20, 1961. Misfits, was to be Marilyn’s last completed film. In 1962, Marilyn was named Female World Film Favorite, just one of her many awards indicating her growth and progression from a young singer to a successful, famous and loved Hollywood Actress in her time.

Unfortunately later that year, on August 5, 1962, the young actress’s career came to an end when Marilyn was found dead in her home in Brentwood, California. There has been a conspiracy of her cause of death, but her official death was ruled as “probable suicide”. Marilyn was killed as a result of a sleeping pill overdose, suspected to the fault of her housekeeper. To remember Marilyn Monroe, Elton John wrote a well-known song called “ Candle in the Wind” as a tribute to her life and accomplishments. Marilyn not only left her movie “__//Something’s Gotta Give//__” unfinished, but also a legacy that will be remembered forever. Marilyn Monroe was a accomplished singer, model and actress and will always be remembered as a young, vibrant and talented women who will be recognized as one of the most successful and popular movie stars not only of the 1950’s, but throughout all of American history.

**__Marilyn’s Career Highlights__**
Info. Taken From: http://www.marilynmonroe.com/about/highlights.htm

Starred in 30 films

Playboy "Sweetheart" of the Month (December 1953)

Started own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions (1955)

Awards:

Golden Globe for "Female World Film Favorite 1954"

Nomination for Best Foreign Actress, 1956 British Academy Awards ("The Seven Year Itch")

Nomination for Best Foreign Actress, 1958 British Academy Awards ("The Prince and the Showgirl")

David Di Donatello Prize for Best Foreign Actress ("The Prince and the Showgirl," 1959)

Crystal Star Award for Best Foreign Actress ("The Prince and the Showgirl," 1959)

Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Comedy ("Some Like It Hot," 1960)

Golden Globe for "Female World Film Favorite 1961"

Rankings:

Chosen by Empire Magazine as one of the "100 Sexiest Stars in Film History" (1995)

Voted Empire (UK) Magazine's "Sexiest Female Movie Star of all Time" (1995)

Ranked #8 in Empire (UK) Magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" (1997)

Named the Number One Sex Star of the 20th century by Playboy magazine (1999)

Voted "Sexiest Woman of the Century" by People Magazine (1999)

Voted 4th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly

Voted 2nd Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine

Ranked #6 on the American Film Institute's "50 Greatest Screen Legends" list