Beyond the blonde bombshell persona lived a woman of intelligence, complexity, and ambition. Discover the real Marilyn.
Marilyn Monroe is perhaps the most iconic movie star in history. But behind the glamour and the headlines was a person few truly knew. Born Norma Jeane Mortenson, she transformed herself into a global symbol of beauty, yet she constantly fought for respect as an artist. Here are 10 facts that reveal the woman behind the myth.
1. She was a brunette
It’s hard to imagine, but the world’s most famous blonde was naturally a brunette. Born Norma Jeane, she had curly reddish-brown hair. She began bleaching it in the mid-1940s upon the advice of modeling executives who told her that "blondes get more work." She eventually settled on her signature "platinum blonde" shade, which required weekly maintenance to keep perfect.
2. She was an intellectual
Contrary to her "dumb blonde" typecasting, Monroe was an intellectually curious woman. She was an avid reader with a personal library containing over 400 books at the time of her death. Her collection included heavyweights like Milton, Dostoevsky, Hemingway, and Kerouac. Photos of her reading Joyce’s Ulysses aren’t props; she was actually reading it.
3. She started her own production company
Tired of being underpaid and typecast by 20th Century Fox, she took a bold step that was unheard of for actresses at the time. In 1955, she formed Marilyn Monroe Productions. She was one of the first women in Hollywood to do so, fighting for—and winning—creative control over her career and a better salary.
4. Her makeup artist had a secret trick
Marilyn’s signature pout wasn't just natural beauty; it was art. Her makeup artist, Allan "Whitey" Snyder, used up to five different shades of red lipstick to create dimension. He applied darker reds on the outer corners and lighter shades in the center, topped with a highlighter on the cupid's bow, to create an illusion of depth and fullness.
5. She studied Method Acting
Determined to be taken seriously as an actress, she walked away from Hollywood at the height of her fame to move to New York City. There, she studied at the prestigious Actors Studio under Lee Strasberg. Even though critics were skeptical, she dedicated herself to the craft of "Method Acting," delving deep into her own traumatic past to fuel her performances.
6. She was a civil rights supporter
Marilyn was ahead of her time in many ways. When the famous Mocambo club in Hollywood refused to book jazz legend Ella Fitzgerald because of her race, Marilyn called the owner herself. She promised to sit front row every single night if he booked Ella. He agreed, Marilyn kept her word, and the press went wild. Ella Fitzgerald later said she never had to play a small jazz club again.
7. She worked in a factory during WWII
Before she was a star, she was a wartime worker. In 1944, she was working at the Radioplane Company in Van Nuys, California, spraying fire retardant on drone fuselages. It was there that a photographer from the First Motion Picture Unit spotted her, taking the photos that would launch her modeling career.
8. Her dress for The Seven Year Itch is legendary
It was originally shot on location in New York City at 2 a.m. with thousands of onlookers cheering every time the skirt blew up. The noise ruined the takes, and her husband, Joe DiMaggio, was reportedly furious. The scene had to be re-shot later on a soundstage.
9. She struggled with stage fright
Despite being a massive star, Marilyn suffered from crippling stage fright. It often manifested as a stutter, which she had struggled with since childhood. Her breathy voice, often imitated, was actually a technique she used to overcome this stutter, as her speech therapist taught her that speaking in that deliberate, breathy tone helped stop the stammering.
10. She left her money to Lee Strasberg
In her will, Marilyn left the majority of her estate, including her personal effects and clothing, to her acting coach Lee Strasberg. She reportedly told him to distribute her things to her friends and colleagues. Instead, he stored them in a warehouse. Decades later, his widow auctioned them off for millions of dollars, including the dress she sang "Happy Birthday, Mr. President" in, which sold for over $1.2 million.