Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Her childhood was marked by instability — her mother suffered from mental illness and Marilyn spent years in foster homes and an orphanage. Despite a difficult start, she signed her first modeling contract in 1945 and her first film contract with Twentieth Century Fox in 1946. Changing her name to Marilyn Monroe, she rose to become the defining Hollywood sex symbol of the 1950s and one of the most recognizable figures in the world. Her performances in Some Like It Hot and The Seven Year Itch cemented her status as both a comedic talent and a cultural icon.

Marilyn Monroe remains one of the most iconic figures in the history of entertainment. Her image — the platinum blonde hair, red lips, and vulnerability beneath the glamour — has become a permanent part of American cultural mythology. Andy Warhol's pop art portraits of her are among the most recognized artworks of the 20th century. Her estate continues to generate tens of millions of dollars annually through licensing. She has been portrayed by dozens of actresses in film and television, most recently by Ana de Armas in the 2022 film Blonde. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.