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The 10 Best Books on Marilyn Monroe

Essential books on marilyn monroe.

There are countless books on Marilyn Monroe, and it comes with good reason, she was an actress, model, and singer who became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s.

“Sometimes things fall apart, so that better things can fall together,” she remarked.

In order to get to the bottom of what inspired one of America’s cultural icons to the height of her crafts, we’ve compiled a list of the 10 best books on Marilyn Monroe.

Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Anthony Summers

Marilyn Monroe, born in obscurity and deprivation, became an actress and legend of the twentieth century, romantically linked to famous men from Joe DiMaggio to Arthur Miller to John F. Kennedy. But her tragic death at a young age, under suspicious circumstances, left behind a mystery that remains unsolved to this day.

Anthony Summers interviewed more than six hundred people, laying bare the truths – sometimes funny, often sad – about this brilliant, troubled woman. The first to gain access to the files of Monroe’s last psychiatrist, Summers uses the documents to explain her tangled psyche and her dangerous addiction to medications. He establishes, after years of mere rumor, that President Kennedy and his brother Robert were both intimately involved with Monroe in life – and in covering up the circumstances of her death.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe by J. Randy Taraborrelli

When Marilyn Monroe became famous in the 1950s, the world was told that her mother was either dead or simply not a part of her life. However, that was not true. In fact, her mentally ill mother was very much present in Marilyn’s world and the family dynamic that unfolded behind the scenes is a story that has never before been told…until now. In this groundbreaking book, Taraborrelli draws complex sympathetic portraits of the women so influential in the actress’ life, including her mother, her foster mother, and her legal guardian.

He also reveals, for the first time, the shocking scope of Marilyn’s own mental illness, the identity of Marilyn’s father and the half-brother she never knew, and new information about her relationship with the Kennedys – Bobby, Jack, and Pat Kennedy Lawford. Explosive, revelatory, and surprisingly moving, this is the final word on the life of one of the most fascinating and elusive icons of the 20th Century.

The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe by Donald H. Wolfe

Fifty years after her death, the Marilyn Monroe mystique remains as strong and alluring as ever. In  The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe , author Donald H. Wolfe, a former Hollywood screenwriter and film editor, examines the tragic starlet’s final weeks and offers startling evidence to support his provocative claim that Marilyn’s alleged suicide was, in fact, a homicide. A powerful and intimate look into the dark side of Hollywood and John F. Kennedy’s Camelot,  this gem among books on Marilyn Monroe  is a must-read for movie buffs, true crime aficionados, and the many still enchanted by the Monroe magic.

Marilyn Monroe: The Biography by Donald Spoto

Spoto’s biography of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe makes use of over 150 interviews and more than 35,000 pages of previously sealed files, including Monroe’s diaries, letters, and other personal and revealing documents. This necessary addition to the ever-growing index of books on Marilyn Monroe reveals new details of every aspect of her life, from her guarded childhood, and her relationships with men and marriages, to her mysterious death. Spoto comments on previous books about Marilyn, and puts to rest questions regarding Monroe’s connection with the Kennedys.

Fragments by Marilyn Monroe

Beyond the headlines – and the too-familiar stories of heartbreak and desolation – was a woman far more curious, searching, witty, and hopeful than the one the world got to know. Now, for the first time, readers can meet the private Marilyn and understand her in a way we never have before. Fragments   is an unprecedented collection of written artifacts – notes to herself, letters, even poems – in Marilyn’s own handwriting, never before published, along with rarely seen intimate photos.

Jotted in notebooks, typed on paper, or written on hotel letterhead, these texts reveal a woman who loved deeply and strove to perfect her craft. They show a Marilyn Monroe unsparing in her analysis of her own life, but also playful, funny, and impossibly charming. The easy grace and deceptive lightness that made her performances indelible emerge on the page, as does the simmering tragedy that made her last appearances so affecting.

Marilyn Monroe: A Biography by Barbara Leaming

Basing her research on new interviews and on thousands of primary documents, including revealing letters by Arthur Miller, Elia Kazan, John Huston, Laurence Olivier, Tennessee Williams, Darryl Zanuck, Marilyn’s psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson, and many others, Barbara Leaming has reconstructed the tangles of betrayal in Marilyn’s life. For the first time, a master storyteller has put together all of the pieces and told Marilyn’s story with the intensity and drama it so richly deserves.

Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon by Charles Casillo

Marilyn Monroe. Her beauty still captivates. Her love life still fascinates. Her story still dominates popular culture. Now, drawing on years of research and dozens of new interviews, this biography cuts through decades of lies and secrets and introduces you to the Marilyn Monroe you always wanted to know: a living, breathing, complex woman, bewitching and maddening, brilliant yet flawed.

Charles Casillo studies Monroe’s life through the context of her times – in the days before feminism. Before there was adequate treatment for Marilyn’s struggle with bipolar disorder. Starting with her abusive childhood, this biography exposes how – in spite of her fractured psyche – Marilyn’s extreme ambition inspired her to transform each celebrated love affair and each tragedy into another step in her journey towards immortality. Casillo fully explores the last two years of her life, including her involvement with both John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert, and the mystery of her last day.

My Sister Marilyn by Berniece Miracle

Few people know that Marilyn Monroe had a sister, and even fewer know the story of their relationship during Marilyn’s rise from obscurity to fame. In My Sister Marilyn , Berniece Baker Miracle, working with her daughter Mona Rae, tells the story she has kept private for fifty years.

Marilyn in Manhattan by Elizabeth Winder

In November of 1954 a young woman dressed plainly in a white oxford, dark sunglasses, and a black pageboy wig boards a midnight flight from Los Angeles to New York. As the plane’s engines rev she breathes a sigh of relief, lights a cigarette and slips off her wig revealing a tangle of fluffy blonde curls. Marilyn Monroe was leaving Hollywood behind, and along with it a failed marriage and a frustrating career. She needed a break from the scrutiny and insanity of LA. She needed Manhattan.

In Manhattan, the most famous woman in the world can wander the streets unbothered, spend hours at the Met getting lost in art, and afternoons buried in the stacks of the Strand. Marilyn begins to live a life of the mind in New York; she dates Arthur Miller, dances with Truman Capote and drinks with Carson McCullers. Even though she had never lived there before, in New York, Marilyn is home.

My Story by Marilyn Monroe

Written at the height of her fame but not published until over a decade after her death, this autobiography of actress and sex symbol Marilyn Monroe poignantly recounts her childhood as an unwanted orphan, her early adolescence, her rise in the film industry from bit player to celebrity, and her marriage to Joe DiMaggio. In this intimate account of a very public life, she tells of her first (non-consensual) sexual experience, her romance with the Yankee Clipper, and her prescient vision of herself as “the kind of girl they found dead in the hall bedroom with an empty bottle of sleeping pills in her hand.”

The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe by Sarah Churchwell

There are many Marilyns: sex goddess and innocent child, crafty manipulator and dumb blonde, liberated woman and tragic loner.  The Many Lives of Marilyn Monroe   reviews the unreliable and unverifiable – but highly significant – stories that have framed this Hollywood legend, all the while revealing the meanings behind the American myths that have made Marilyn what she is today.

In incisive and passionate prose, cultural critic Sarah Churchwell uncovers the shame, belittlement, and anxiety that we bring to the story of a woman we supposedly adore and, in the process, rescues a Marilyn Monroe who is far more complicated and credible than the one we think we know.

When Marilyn Met the Queen by Michelle Morgan

In July 1956, Marilyn Monroe arrived in London – on honeymoon with her husband Arthur Miller – to make The Prince and the Showgirl with Sir Laurence Olivier. It was meant to be a happy time…

Marilyn would work during the day at Pinewood Studios, in Iver Heath, while Arthur would write. Then, in the evening, the couple would be able to relax together in their private English country cottage.

But the cottage was a mansion, in Englefield Green, and Marilyn, used to living in tiny hotel rooms and apartments, felt herself being watched. She was, by several of owner Lord Drogheda’s servants, who were selling stories to the papers.

And when filming began, all did not go as hoped. Over time, Marilyn grew to hate Olivier; the feeling was mutual.

Marilyn found herself a curiosity for the frequently hostile British press. She took solace in bike rides in Windsor Great Park, in small acts of kindness from members of the public, and in a growing fascination with Queen Elizabeth, whom she longed to meet – and eventually did.

If you enjoyed this guide to essential books on Marilyn Monroe, check out our list of The 10 Best Books on Andy Warhol !

The Best Marilyn Monroe Books to Read Before Seeing ‘Blonde’

By Anna Tingley

Anna Tingley

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Since Marilyn Monroe ‘s death, there has been no shortage of biographies, documentaries, docu-series, coffee table books, oral histories, podcasts and art created in her memory — all, in their different ways, serving as a way to better understand the inimitable icon whose life was famously shrouded in mystery.

In September, Ana de Armas will take a stab at revealing more about Monroe’s life in “ Blonde ,” based off of Joyce Carol Oates’ best-selling novel. The film, like the book, is a reimagined version of Monroe’s life which fuses fact and fiction to paint a portrait of what Marilyn Monroe represented during this era of Hollywood.

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Below, check out some of the best books about Marilyn Monroe to read before watching “Blonde” this Fall. Check out more books being made into TV shows and movies here .

‘Marilyn: Norma Jeane’ by Gloria Steinem

From the feminist icon and activist Gloria Steinem comes this complex portrait of Marilyn Monroe, one of the first that can be credited with changing the public perception of the historic actor and model. Through stories that had never before been told, Steinem reveals the tortured feelings and intelligence often obscured behind the photos that made Monroe into the ultimate sex symbol.

BUY NOW: $2.99

‘Norma Jean: The Life of Marilyn Monroe’ by Fred Lawrence Guiles

Norman Mailer cites Fred Lawrence Guiles as the “chief source of fact about Marilyn,” someone whose entire life and history is often shrouded in mystery and rumor. But Guiles’ definitive biography “Norma Jean” sets the record straight, including interviews with some of the people closest to Monroe throughout her life, like her husband and acclaimed playwright Arthur Miller; her first husband James E. Dougherty; Frank Taylor, the producer of “The Misfits,”; Lee Strasberg; Otto Preminger; Billy Wilder; Joshua Logan and John Huston.

BUY NOW: $26.99   $19.58

‘My Story’ by Marilyn Monroe

Alongside Ben Hecht, Marilyn Monroe tells the story of her own life for the first time in this autobiography, which contains stories dating back all the way to her childhood as an orphan in Los Angeles. Also in the revelatory book, which was not published until over a decade after her death, she tells of her first (non-consensual) sexual encounter she experienced when she was a young girl, her whirlwind romance with Yankee clipper Joe DiMaggio and dozens of passages that show the intelligence and wit that wasn’t appreciated enough in her lifetime. The most shocking line in the book might be Monroe’s prescient description of herself as “the kind of girl they found dead in the hall bedroom with an empty bottle of sleeping pills in her hand.”

BUY NOW: $29.95   $26.91

‘MM Personal – From the Private Archive of Marilyn Monroe’ by Lois Banner

Paging through Lois Banner’s thoughtful curation in “MM – Personal” feels like you’re wading through the cabinets, drawers and closets of the historic actor and model yourself. There’s no editorializing, no agenda and no sensationalized stories. Instead, you’ll find a vast collection of screenshots, documents and memorabilia from Monroe’s private archive that come together to paint a portrait of her impossibly complex life.

‘Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters’ by Marilyn Monroe

There’s something magical about seeing the remnants left from a past life, whether they are tattered or faded or almost indiscernible after decades of not being given notice. That’s what Stanley Buchthal taps into with “Fragments,” which includes handwritten notebooks, notes, letters and poems written by Marilyn Monroe herself throughout her lifetime. Out of the hundreds of pages written about Monroe since her death, it’s the fragmented notes she left behind (perhaps not meant to ever be read by anyone else) that offer the best understanding of her life and feelings.

BUY NOW: $36.00   $25.75

‘Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon’ by Charles Casillo

Charles Casillos’ groundbreaking 2018 biography of Marilyn Monroe is regarded as one of the most definitive accounts of the icon’s life, based on years of interviews and research that can’t be found anywhere else. In addition to her abusive childhood, her struggle with bipolar disorder and infamous affairs with both Rob and John F. Kennedy, Casillo also delves into her final days in meticulous detail, revealing the tragic miscommunications that contributed to her death.

‘Blonde: A Novel’ by Joyce Carol Oates

The bestselling “Blonde” is one of the most acclaimed pieces of work from the prolific novelist Joyce Carol Oates, who reimagines Marilyn Monroe’s life in a fictionalized retelling of her upbringing and rise to stardom through a first-person narrative. The 768-page epic tale is both a history-informed tribute to the 20th century American star and a universal story that uses creative liberties to speak on the torturous feelings so often at the center of Hollywood’s biggest names. This September, the film version of the book will be released on Netflix starring Ana de Armas as Monroe. See more books being made into TV shows and movies here.  

BUY NOW: $19.99   $11.99

‘Norman Mailer. Marilyn Monroe. Bert Stern’

Bert Stern’s iconic “Last Sitting” photos of Marilyn Monroe taken just weeks before her death are combined with Norman Mailer’s controversial 1973 biography in this brand new photo book from Taschen. Stern, one of the most elite photographers in the 20th century, is known for capturing the most intimate photos of Monroe ever taken. Mailer’s biography “Marilyn,” although controversial, is emblematic of what Monroe represented in Hollywood and beyond during her reign over the industry. Check out more coffee table books here.  

BUY NOW: $100

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7 Essential Marilyn Monroe Books to Read After Watching Blonde

In life and in death, Marilyn Monroe merchandized sex, sensuality, and stardom. Even today, she represents a visual shorthand for our idea of the ultimate celebrity. Andy Warhol’s iconic silkscreens of Monroe perhaps best captured this: visual reminders of her marketable face, femininity, and eternal fame. Now a new Netflix film, Blonde , adapts the 2000 Joyce Carol Oates novelization of Monroe’s life story to give us an unvarnished depiction of the perils of her celebrity. The film joins countless other creative efforts to understand and anatomize the movie star born Norma Jeane Mortensen, including biopics, TV series, biographies, photo books, essays, and even plays. Some have had set agendas — like biographers claiming she was murdered by the FBI or had an affair with Robert F. Kennedy — while others have leaned into the emotional depths of her short, tragic life to sketch a portrait of someone whose fame completely eclipsed their humanity. For those looking to dig deeper, here are the best books that deconstruct, analyze, and even transmogrify the star known as Marilyn Monroe.

“The sole voice of Blonde is Norma Jeane’s,” says Oates of her lauded 2000 novel, Blonde . The book is a fictional exploration of Marilyn Monroe’s life that strips away the veneer of Hollywood moviemaking and leaves the unpolished Norma Jeane searching for security and certainty. At almost 1,000 pages, it’s an epic work that uses the rough storyboards of Monroe’s life to create a richly humanistic and relatable narrative. But be warned that it’s also a real sober read. In it, there is Monroe’s traumatic childhood, her many abortions, suicide attempts, alcoholism and drug problems, lovers and abusers, and precarious mental health. There’s also never-ending sweat in Blonde : the sweat in trying to be Marilyn Monroe, in searching for personal and professional autonomy, in simply needing to survive deep and gnawing traumas. The book aims to confront as Oates tasks us with reconciling this brutalized woman with the sanitized, glamorous femininity of star Marilyn Monroe. For those who enjoy the new film adaptation, it’s worth committing to Oates’s sustained novel on Monroe as it beautifully augments her tragedy, loneliness, and unending search for stability.

Norman Mailer’s 1973 coffee-table book on Monroe isn’t essential reading. But it’s an important cultural artifact in understanding how the star’s story was previously pitched to the masses. In the book, Mailer makes outrageous, unsubstantiated claims and mostly steals biographical sourcing from other bios. He pads out Monroe’s life to build a crescendo of claims, such as that the FBI allegedly murdered Monroe to suppress her affair with Robert F. Kennedy. This and other assertions proved bankable for Mailer in the 1970s, which saw the book sell millions. There’s other notoriety around Marilyn: A Biography , too, with some critics claiming it was an attempt by Mailer to clap back at Arthur Miller, as Mailer had ambitions for wider celebrity that Miller totally eclipsed in his marriage to Monroe. Rereading today, the book uses cheap, shorthand psychoanalysis to analyze the star and is punctuated with awkward sections that wax lyrical on her erotic appeal. It’s a relic of its time, but a key read for those wanting to reckon with how many Americans viewed Monroe from the 1970s onward — as a sex bomb, slut, and victim of an FBI cover-up. Mailer’s biography remains notable only in understanding the urgent work other biographers had to do to dispel his many sensationalist claims.

Donald Spato’s deeply researched and detailed biography of Monroe is a hard find today but worth the hunt. It’s often considered the best of the Monroe bios and remains an essential corrective. At almost 800 pages, it’s a fulsome account of Monroe’s much fabled life story, beginning with her difficult childhood — the absent, unknown father and mentally unwell mother — to her early days hustling in Hollywood, all right up until her huge celebrity finally engulfed her. The book is a fair and revisionist take that puts to bed many rumors, including completely debunking the sexual-affair stories with the Kennedy brothers (thanks Mailer). Spato states Monroe slept with J.F.K. only once: “The Kennedys had almost nothing to do with her.” This is all underpinned by comprehensive research, including 35,000 personal and professional documents (some unsealed for the first time), and rare interviews including with those present at the autopsy (who stress Monroe wasn’t murdered by the FBI or CIA). Instead, Spoto tries to let the straight facts talk alongside heavily attributable sourcing, arguing that Monroe’s tragic ends had everything to do with her search for stability in life and nothing to do with wild conspiracies.

While some Marilyn books have had political agendas, J. Randy Taraborrelli’s biography is invested more in her family ties and focuses on Monroe’s mother, Gladys Baker. We learn how generations of Monroe’s family were struck down by serious mental-health issues, including her mother, Gladys, who suffered paranoid schizophrenia and spent much of her life in institutions. Monroe was terrified of befalling the same hereditary line of madness that undid both her mother and her grandmother (who, incidentally, committed suicide). Taraborrelli’s approach is to stress the “secret life” of Monroe and argue that her psychic issues were owed to this unavoidable hereditary destiny. Much of mental illness was misunderstood in the 1950s and, in Monroe’s case, poorly treated by the exploitative studio system and a sycophantic crew close to her. Monroe’s concerns about her mental stability only increased her dependency on prescription pills and alcohol to calm her immense angst later on. (It’s somber reading to learn she died with 15 bottles of prescription pills on her nightstand.) Know that this biography is a more gossipy take than others, so don’t look for much thoughtful commentary and expect more exposé (like interviews with Secret Service agents and copies of Gladys Baker’s medical records).

Believe it or not, Monroe actually authored parts of her own autobiography while still alive. My Story (first published in 1974) is an anomaly, however, as it was largely forgotten about and only published in response to the renewed interest in her in the mid-1970s (thanks again, Mailer). The book pieces together several interviews done with screenwriter Ben Hecht, chronicling her life up until 1954. Some startling insights are shared here, including that Monroe was sexually abused at 8 years old by a man who boarded with her foster parents. (There’s also a wild story of being scolded by Joan Crawford for her outfits.) Monroe presciently says in My Story , “Yes, there was something special about me … I was the kind of girl they found dead in a hall bedroom with an empty bottle of sleeping pills in her hand.” Know that this isn’t a full picture — more like a small window into Monroe’s mind. Piecing together personal thoughts, anecdotes, and memories, the book asks fans to fill in the blanks on Monroe’s brief life by listening to her own voice and reflections rather than subscribing to the outrageous myths projected onto her.

While Monroe biographies are often pumped out every few years, Charles Casillo’s mediation on Monroe is one of her more redemptive treatments in recent memory. Unlike others that have sought total and dispassionate accuracy, or speculated on wild conspiracy theories, Casillo leans into human backstories for a more sensitive portrait that mines the emotional contours of her life. In particular, how Monroe was plagued by gnawing insecurities — on her mental stability, her broken family ties, her own self-preservation — and undone by dependencies to keep seemingly alive and working, using everything from booze to barbiturates. The book’s central claim is that Monroe’s fractured and unfulfilled relationship with her unknown father was what caused a lifetime of problematic relationships and trauma with men. This included her husbands, the demanding Joe DiMaggio and the belittling Arthur Miller. Monroe’s search for her father is emblematic of her larger search for certainty elsewhere in her life that sadly never goes fulfilled, ultimately seeing her take her own life — whether intentionally or accidentally. This is a fresh biography that synthesizes many parts of her life story into a digestible and compelling psychological study.

Barbara Leaming takes great pains to devalue the usual scandalous parts of Monroe’s life (such as the Kennedys and her suicide) to invest heavily into a study of her identity as a woman struggling against the studio system, society, and herself. At the center of this strife is her marriage to Arthur Miller. Leaming argues this union remains representative of Monroe’s desire for dignity and artistic respect, away from the emptiness of Hollywood’s exploits and the façade of Marilyn the dumb blonde. Somewhat pessimistically, however, Leaming says that Monroe ultimately succumbed to the same cycle she sought out to avoid, even in spite of the marriage. She spent her later years posing for nude photos and hitting the booze and party circuit, drifting back to the demeaning routines she so desperately sought to escape by becoming a big movie star in the first place. Of all the biographies out there, this is sure to appeal to readers interested in reckoning with the relationship between Monroe’s celebrity and womanhood, as Leaming provides important correctives to many mainstream tall tales. Marilyn Monroe restores the maligned womanhood, intellect, and depth to Monroe that still today features in popular understandings of her as a symbolic shorthand for sex and celebrity.

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In their first runs, Monroe’s 23 movies grossed a total of more than $200 million, and her fame surpassed that of any other entertainer of her time. She overcame her early image as a dumb and seductive blonde , winning critical acclaim as a serious actress for  Some Like It Hot  (1959).

What was Marilyn Monroe’s childhood like?

Marilyn Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles and later took her mother’s surname, Baker. Her mother was frequently confined in an asylum , and Norma Jeane was reared by 12 successive sets of foster parents and, for a time, in an orphanage.

In June 1962 Monroe was fired from the film Something’s Got to Give because of her frequent absences. Although she was later rehired, work never resumed. After several months as a virtual recluse, Monroe died from an overdose of sleeping pills in her Los Angeles home. Her death was ruled a “probable suicide.”

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Marilyn Monroe (born June 1, 1926, Los Angeles , California , U.S.—died August 5, 1962, Los Angeles) was an American actress who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful films during the 1950s, and is considered a pop culture icon.

Norma Jeane Mortenson later took her mother’s name, Baker. Her mother was frequently confined in an asylum, and Norma Jeane was reared by 12 successive sets of foster parents and, for a time, in an orphanage. In 1942 she married a fellow worker in an aircraft factory, but they divorced soon after World War II . She became a popular photographer’s model and in 1946 signed a short-term contract with Twentieth Century-Fox , taking as her screen name Marilyn Monroe. After a few brief appearances in movies made by the Fox and Columbia studios, she was again unemployed, and she returned to modeling for photographers. Her nude photograph on a calendar brought her a role in the film Scudda-Hoo! Scudda-Hay! (1948), which was followed by other minor roles.

In 1950 Monroe played a small uncredited role in The Asphalt Jungle that reaped a mountain of fan mail. An appearance in All About Eve (1950) won her another contract from Fox and much recognition. In a succession of movies, including Let’s Make It Legal (1951), Love Nest (1951), Clash by Night (1952), and Niagara (1953), she advanced to star billing on the strength of her studio-fostered image as a “love goddess.” With performances in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and There’s No Business Like Show Business (1954), her fame grew steadily and spread throughout the world, and she became the object of unprecedented popular adulation . In 1954 she married baseball star Joe DiMaggio , and the attendant publicity was enormous. With the end of their marriage less than a year later she began to grow discontented with her career.

Monroe studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actors’ Studio in New York City , and in The Seven Year Itch (1955) and Bus Stop (1956) she began to emerge as a talented comedian. In 1956 she married playwright Arthur Miller and briefly retired from moviemaking, although she costarred with Laurence Olivier in The Prince and the Showgirl (1957). She won critical acclaim for the first time as a serious actress for Some Like It Hot (1959). Her last film, the drama The Misfits (1961), was written by Miller specifically for Monroe, though their marriage disintegrated during production; they divorced in 1961.

In 1962 Monroe began filming the comedy Something’s Got to Give . However, she was frequently absent from the set because of illnesses, and in May she traveled to New York City to attend a gala where she famously sang “Happy Birthday” to Pres. John F. Kennedy , with whom she was allegedly having an affair. In June Monroe was fired from the film. Although she was later rehired, work never resumed. After several months as a virtual recluse, Monroe died from an overdose of sleeping pills (barbiturates) in her Los Angeles home. Her death was ruled a “probable suicide,” and this finding was supported by the actress’s history of drug use and previous suicide attempts. However, some believed that she had been killed after threatening to reveal her relationship with the Kennedy brothers—she was also rumoured to have had an affair with U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy —or that she had information linking the two men to organized crime . Although there was insufficient evidence to support these claims, conspiracy theories persisted.

In their first runs, Monroe’s 23 movies grossed a total of more than $200 million, and her fame surpassed that of any other entertainer of her time. Her early image as a dumb and seductive blonde gave way in later years to the tragic figure of a sensitive and insecure woman unable to escape the pressures of Hollywood. Her vulnerability and sensuousness combined with her needless death eventually raised her to the status of an American cultural icon.

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8 Marilyn Monroe books to read after you watch Blonde

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Maureen Lee Lenker is a senior writer at Entertainment Weekly with over seven years of experience in the entertainment industry. An award-winning journalist, she's written for Turner Classic Movies, Ms. Magazine , The Hollywood Reporter , and more. She's worked at EW for six years covering film, TV, theater, music, and books. The author of EW's quarterly romance review column, "Hot Stuff," Maureen holds Master's degrees from both the University of Southern California and the University of Oxford. Her debut novel, It Happened One Fight , is now available. Follow her for all things related to classic Hollywood, musicals, the romance genre, and Bruce Springsteen.

Marilyn Monroe has been the subject of countless articles, books, and think pieces, including author Joyce Carol Oates' fictional re-imagining of the legend's inner life in Blonde , which has now been adapted into a biopic starring Ana de Armas .

Curious minds will want to check out Blonde , the novel, because it's unique to make a film about Monroe inspired by a work of fiction rather than any of the abundant pieces of biographical nonfiction that have been published.

But if you can't get enough of Monroe — or her real self, Norma Jeane Mortensen — there's plenty more to read out there beyond the pages of Blonde. Here are eight books that seek to probe the heart and soul of Monroe: misunderstood, complex, mercurial, enigmatic, a star.

Marilyn: The Passion and the Paradox by Lois Banner

Few have done more revelatory and insightful research into Monroe's life as Lois Banner, a historian and leading figure in the field of women's history. With Marilyn , a biography years in the making, Banner used her academic credentials to gain access to private material and intimate interviews unrivaled by any prior biographer. Banner, who includes herself and her research process in the text, seeks to truly probe the paradoxes of who Marilyn was — her ability to be both a celebrity utterly in control of her image and a vulnerable, exploited figure.

Marilyn in Manhattan: Her Year of Joy by Elizabeth Winder

Though a child of Los Angeles and a legend of Hollywood, Monroe likely found the most solace and stability in her life during her year spent living in New York City. Winder's cultural history offers readers an in-depth look at that year, which found Monroe taking classes at the Actor's Studio, visiting museums, and falling in love with playwright Arthur Miller . New York allowed Monroe to forge a life where she could become the actress she'd always wanted to be, as well as to finally start being taken seriously as an intellectual. For a slice of life that offers up Monroe at her best and brightest, look no further.

My Week With Marilyn by Colin Clark

The source material for a 2011 Marilyn biopic (starring Michelle Williams ), this is a first-hand account of one person's experience in Monroe's orbit. As a young man, Colin Clark worked as a production assistant on The Prince and the Showgirl, and he chronicled his experiences on set and his week with Marilyn escorting her around the English countryside in his diary. Here, those are published in memoir format, giving a highly personal glimpse at Monroe at a crucial crossroads in her life.

The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist by Michelle Morgan

Though many accounts would have use see Monroe as an entirely helpless figure abused by the power brokers in her life, she was far smarter and savvier than biographers often give her credit for. Blonde pinpoints the iconic moment of Marilyn Monroe's skirt blowing, as she stands over a subway grate in The Seven Year Itch, as the pinnacle of her exploitation. This book, instead, posits it as a feminist reset for Monroe, who had fought to play the role of "The Girl" in the film. Morgan recounts the meticulous ways in which Monroe controlled her own image, taking charge of her fame and the role her body played in it. Here, we are given a portrait of a Monroe in full possession of her power, a star with the business acumen and know-how necessary to use her assets instead of allowing them to be used.

Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon by Charles Casillo

One of the more recent entries in the ever-burgeoning business of Monroe biographies, Casillo's study is a harrowing deep dive into the psychological truths of Monroe's life. It seeks to give her agency, while also picking apart what he sees as undiagnosed bipolar disorder. He uses the lens of modern psychology to understand what ultimately made Marilyn a tragic figure. This one leans heavily into Monroe's later years, charting an in-depth account of Monroe's final days, and attempting to understand how her demons and the carefully crafted stages of her career ultimately led to her sad end.

Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters by Marilyn Monroe

Sometimes it's best to hear from subjects themselves, and Fragments offers readers an unprecedented look at Monroe in her own words. This collection of letters, poems, and other handwritten ephemera gives an intimate glimpse into her life and what she was thinking as she traversed the perils of Hollywood and doggedly pursued her dream of being taken seriously as an actress. It showcases Monroe as a highly perceptive woman: witty, unsparingly honest in her self-assessment, while still light and playful. If you truly want to understand Marilyn in her own words, this is the book.

Marilyn: Norma Jeane by Gloria Steinem

A formative text in our understanding of Marilyn Monroe and the act of biography itself, this book offers Gloria Steinem a stage to unpack Marilyn's life and image through her distinctively feminist lens. Steinem was one of the first to delve deeply into Monroe's childhood and the ways in which her years as Norma Jeane shaped her far-more-famous onscreen persona. At first offended by the brand of femininity Marilyn Monroe represented, Steinem uses this book as a chance to counteract that teenage gut reaction, instead probing the nuances of Monroe's life and her greatest creation — herself.

MM–Personal: From the Private Archive of Marilyn Monroe by Lois Banner and Mark Andersen

Once thought lost, Monroe's private archive of papers, photographs, and ephemera gets its due here in this stunning collection of material. It features selections from over 10,000 unseen and unpublished items from Monroe's own files, including snapshots, memorabilia, professional documents, clothing, and private letters. Paired with commentary from historian Lois Banner, it lends context to the trappings of Monroe's life in unparalleled fashion.

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Behind the Bombshell: 7 Best Marilyn Monroe Books

Rediscover the icon whose life was as dramatic as her movies.

• Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons

Although more than 50 years have passed since Marilyn Monroe died from a barbiturate overdose in her Los Angeles home, she’s still a household name. When people think about who Marilyn Monroe was, they might remember her as merely a sex symbol or blonde bombshell.

But before Marilyn Monroe became any of these things, she was Norma Jeane Mortenson, a brunette who grew up in foster care before marrying her first husband at the age of 16. She was a decidedly unglamorous factory worker during World War II while her husband was deployed. Just a few years later, she would have her big break, becoming the woman we know as Marilyn Monroe.

Monroe’s colorful life and lucrative movie career created the image of her that we think of today. But what was Marilyn Monroe really like? Did she really die from an overdose, or was there a conspiracy involved in the circumstances surrounding her death? We’ve created a list of the most revealing Marilyn Monroe books that may help tell the true story of the pop culture icon.

By Gloria Steinem

As written by one of the leaders of the feminist movement in the 1960s, Steinem’s presentation of Monroe embraces her status as both a sex symbol and as an icon for female empowerment. The book includes photos taken by George Barris–the same man who shot her infamous subway grate photo. He and Monroe had talked about creating a book that combined his photos with her narrative, but never got the chance to do so.

Related: 15 Biographies of Remarkable Women That You Need to Read  

Steinem structured the book so that every chapter could be read as its own separate essay. The book explores Monroe’s rarely mentioned maternal nature–she felt a deep connection to the foster care children she often visited in her down time. Steinem also presents the dark implications of Monroe’s screen career. Monroe was a woman constantly cheated out of her money, and people often mistook her as the same person to her characters. You’ll feel a pang of sadness for Monroe after you read the book, but you’ll also see how her legacy empowered women to embrace their sexualities. 

By Michelle Morgan

Morgan's biography focuses on the time period that is considered Monroe’s best years in film. Monroe was a star before The Seven Year Itch , but she truly became an icon after her subway grate photo was plastered across magazines and newspapers. During this time, Monroe capitalized on her growing success as a sex symbol by playing the parts that she was good at–even if that frequently meant being perceived as equivalent to her characters. 

During this time, Monroe also created her own production company and legally changed her name from Norma Jeane to Marilyn Monroe. For those who want to focus on Marilyn Monroe as a screen legend and a feminist icon, this book will remind you of who she was in her prime.

By Anthony Summers

In Goddess, Summers explores every “what if” about Marilyn Monroe’s death. For many, the details of her 1962 death just don’t add up. Every possibility from a possible Mafia hit to Monroe as the victim of a devious plot brought on by two of the Kennedy brothers is laid out, and you’ll have more questions than answers by the end of the book. 

Related: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe  

Summers interviewed more than 600 people for the book. One person alleged that she and her husband learned that Monroe had died hours before the police were actually called, while others supported the claim that the CIA or FBI may have been involved. This book is for fans of conspiracy theories and scandalous rumors that span across industries.

The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

By J. Randy Taraborrelli

In order to understand who Marilyn Monroe ultimately became, it is important to understand where she came from. Taraborrelli first gives the background of Monroe’s birth mother, her foster mother, and her grandmother before there is a single chapter focused on Monroe herself. Realizing just how stacked the odds were against Monroe makes her climb to success all the more admirable. 

This biography also explores Monroe’s rarely discussed bouts with mental illness. Mental illness ran in her family, even becoming severe enough to cause Marilyn’s mother to abandon her into foster care. The details of her long-standing struggles with her mental health bring the circumstances of her death into focus. 

Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis

By David Wills

This coffee table book is a valuable visual resource for true fans of Marilyn’s life. Wills, a curator, used his skill to create a photo-based book that, despite a lack of words, shows the full narrative of the star’s life.The images from Monroe’s early life show a young girl who commands the attention of a camera, making it clear that she was destined to be a star from the start. Each photo series is introduced by quotes about or from Marilyn. 

Related: Ruth Gruber: The Making of a Trailblazing Female Correspondent  

Marilyn Monroe: The Biography

By Donald Spoto

The chapters of the book are organized by the months and years in Monroe’s life, from her birth to her death—emphasizing how every moment was influential in some way. Spoto includes Monroe’s own personal letters and diary entries to make the narrative personal and straight from her own thoughts. Spoto went through over 35,000 pages from files on her life and death, so to say that his research is thorough is putting it lightly. 

Marilyn: A Biography

By Norman Mailer

Mailer wrote arguably the most famous biography about Monroe—famous, mainly, because of how salacious it is. Mailer asserts that Monroe was killed by government agents, a claim he later said was a tactic to sell more books. Considering that Marilyn: A Biography outsold all his other books except The Naked and the Dead , this move worked. You’ll have to be certain to take everything Miller writes with a huge grain of salt, but this biography is worth the read for Marilyn obsessives who look to understand how her life became a symbol that was far beyond her own reach. Mailer is a prime example of the type of man who swallowed up Marilyn and spat her out for his own gain.

Featured photo: Wikimedia Commons

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Marilyn Monroe: Fascinating Facts About the Real Woman Behind the Legend

Marilyn Monroe died on August 5, 1962, yet she's remained an unforgettable icon for more than half a century. As with many pop-culture figures, some overly hyped aspects of Monroe's story — such as her reputation as a "dumb blonde" and the mystery around her death — have often overshadowed other aspects of her legacy. Here are six fascinating facts about her life that reveal a more nuanced picture of the real woman behind the legend:

Monroe cut her honeymoon short to entertain the troops

In the early years of World War II , Monroe was a teenaged housewife named Norma Jeane Dougherty. During the war, she went to work in a factory that made military drones. There, she was discovered by a photographer searching for subjects to inspire the troops. Monroe became a model and went on to take risqué pin-up photos that would be hugely popular with soldiers in Korea. After she'd transformed into an actress called Marilyn Monroe, army publication Stars & Stripes dubbed her "Miss Cheesecake of 1951" as her film career was taking off.

Monroe demonstrated her gratitude to these fans by interrupting her honeymoon with second husband Joe DiMaggio to visit troops in Korea in February 1954. Her routine, which featured her onstage in a sparkling purple dress, was a huge hit. She did 10 shows in four days, despite freezing temperatures that contributed to her developing pneumonia. Monroe later noted the experience "was the best thing that ever happened to me. I never felt like a star before in my heart."

READ MORE: Inside Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio's Roller Coaster Romance

Becoming an A-List movie start didn't come easy

As she started out in the movie industry, Monroe did submit to the casting couch. However, she also worked hard by taking lessons and giving her all to the parts that came her way. To gain experience for a role in B movie Ladies of the Chorus (1948), she performed in a burlesque show under the name "Mona Monroe." For a working-class role in the film Clash by Night (1952), she observed workers in a cannery (and apparently was offered a job beheading fish).

Monroe certainly didn't experience overnight success — she cycled through a couple of movie studios, and saw film contracts expire. But she was always prepared to triumph in her career. At one point she told a friend, "If one hundred percent of the movie big shots in Hollywood told me I couldn’t make it to the top, I wouldn’t believe them."

She stood up to HUAC

In 1956, while involved with Monroe, playwright Arthur Miller was called to testify before the House Un-American Activities Committee. Artists who refused to reveal people who'd been involved with Communist activities could be sent to prison for contempt of Congress, but Miller refused to name names. Throughout this ordeal, Monroe remained committed to Miller — despite studio executives and acting teacher Paula Strasberg warning that her decision could expose Monroe to a public backlash that might destroy her career.

Monroe also agreed to marry Miller , even after he surprised her by announcing their wedding plans in his HUAC testimony. Her public display of loyalty likely helped keep him out of prison (Miller was given a suspended sentence for his contempt conviction in 1957; the conviction went on to be overturned in 1958). However, Monroe's actions ended up attracting further interest: Support of Miller, combined with a request she'd made to visit the Soviet Union in 1955 (though she didn't make the trip), prompted the FBI to open a file on her.

READ MORE: Marilyn Monroe and Arthur Miller Had an Instant Connection, But Quickly Grew Apart Once Married

Monroe was an advocate for civil rights

Her relationship with Miller, which ended in divorce in 1961, wasn't the only means by which Monroe became politically aware. With Shelley Winters, a one-time roommate, Monroe attended rallies protesting the violation of civil liberties caused by anti-Communist fervor. She was once chastised for reading a "radical" biography of muckraker Lincoln Steffens on a film set. Having been raised to hold more progressive views on race, Monroe also became an advocate for civil rights.

In 1960, Monroe was elected as an alternate delegate to Connecticut's state Democratic convention (it was a largely honorary position and she didn't attend the gathering). She also once said to reporters, "My nightmare is the H-bomb. What's yours?" — making it unsurprising that she got involved with the Hollywood arm of the Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy. The FBI, which continued to keep tabs on her, noted in her file in 1962: "Subject's views are very positively and concisely leftist; however, if she is being actively used by the Communist Party, it is not general knowledge among those working with the movement in Los Angeles."

She was institutionalized in 1961

Monroe had a lifelong fear of losing her sanity, something she'd witnessed in her mother . So when Dr. Marianne Kris brought Monroe — who was taking pills, losing weight and not sleeping — to a locked and padded room in New York’s Payne Whitney Clinic in 1961, the patient reacted badly. Desperate to escape, Monroe took inspiration from one of her early films, broke a window and threatened to cut herself with a piece of glass.

This behavior led to Monroe being restrained and carried to another level of the facility, and her desperation grew. Dr. Kris didn't visit; Monroe wrote to Lee and Paula Strasberg, her acting teachers, but they weren't able to obtain her release. Only ex-husband DiMaggio came through, rushing to the facility when he learned what was happening. "I want my wife," he demanded, "And if you do not release her to me, I will take this place apart — piece of wood, by piece . . . of . . . wood." Of course, Monroe was no longer DiMaggio's wife, but the hospital felt the most prudent course was to avoid any potential negative publicity. She was transferred to Columbia University Presbyterian Hospital, where she received treatment in a private room.

READ MORE: How Marilyn Monroe's Childhood Was Disrupted by Her Mother's Paranoid Schizophrenia

Monroe was incredibly generous

Monroe was generous throughout her life, a trait that was apparent even as she spent time in institutions and foster homes. She gave an acting teacher a valuable fur coat and offered money to people in need; shopping companions would often find Monroe had sent them items she'd ostensibly purchased for herself. She was especially generous with children and offered assistance to child-focused charities like the Milk Fund for Babies and the March of Dimes.

That same generosity continues even after Monroe's death . Though most of Monroe's estate went to Strasberg, a portion was left to Dr. Kris. In 1980, Kris bequeathed her part of Monroe's estate to England's Anna Freud Centre . This organization serves children with mental health issues — given her life experiences, it's a cause Monroe would likely be proud to support.

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30 Great Books about Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe was born June 1, 1926 – 90 years ago. A half century after her death, she remains an icon. A product of abuse and foster homes, Norma Jeane Baker carefully created and cultivated Marilyn Monroe, the definition of sexiness, beauty and Hollywood intrigue. She was the blonde bombshell who was both sultry and funny. Her life was colorful and controversial. Her husbands included baseball great Joe Dimaggio, and writer/intellectual Arthur Miller. Her lovers included the equally charismatic President John F. Kennedy. Marilyn died August 4,1962 at age 36. Some believe it was suicide. Others believe it was an accident. Many say it was murder. Here are 30 great books about all aspects of the movie icon’s amazing life and mysterious death

#1- My Story

Marilyn monroe.

#2 – Legend: The Life and Death of Marilyn Monroe

Fred lawrence guiles.

#3 – Marilyn Monroe: The Biography

Donald spoto.

#4 – Icon: The Life, Times, and Films of Marilyn Monroe Volume 1 1926 to 1956

Gary vitacco-robles.

#5 – Marilyn Monroe

Barbara leaming.

#6 – The Last Days of Marilyn Monroe

Donald h. wolfe.

#7 – Marilyn Monroe: Metamorphosis

David wills.

#8 – Marilyn Monroe: The Final Years

Keith badman.

#9 Marilyn: Norma Jeane

Gloria steinem, george barris.

#10 – To Norma Jeane, With Love, Jimmie

James dougherty, lc van savage.

#11 – The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

J. randy taraborrelli.

#12 – Marilyn

Norman mailer.

#13 – Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters

#14 – Before Marilyn: The Blue Book Modeling Years

Astrid franse, michelle morgan.

#15 – Marilyn Monroe Unveiled: A Family History

Jason edward kennedy.

#16 – The Murder of Marilyn Monroe: Case Closed

Jay margolis, richard buskin.

#17 – Marilyn: In the Flash

#18 – Marilyn in Fashion: The Enduring Influence of Marilyn Monroe

Christopher nickens, george zeno.

#19 – Marilyn: Her Life in Her Own Words

Marilyn monroe, george barris.

#20 – Marilyn: Intimate Exposures

Susan bernard, jane russell (foreword), lindsay lohan (foreword).

#21 – Marilyn Monroe: Private and Confidential

Michelle morgan.

#22 – Marilyn Monroe: A Case for Murder

Jay margolis.

#23 – Marilyn Monroe: From Beginning to End

Michael ventura (author), earl leaf (photographer).

#24 – An Evening with Marilyn

Douglas kirkland (photographer).

#25 – Marilyn Monroe: A Biography

Kate williams.

#26 – UFOs and the Murder of Marilyn Monroe

Donald r. burleson.

#27 – The Assassination of Marilyn Monroe

#28 – Memoirs of a Deputy Coroner: The Case of Marilyn Monroe

Lionel grandison jr., samir muqaddin.

#29 – Crypt 33: The Saga of Marilyn Monroe

Adela gregory, milo speriglio.

#30 – Coroner’s Cold Case #81128 : Marilyn Monroe

Peter wright.

More Books About Marilyn Monroe

The secret happiness of marilyn monroe.

James E. Dougherty

Marilyn Monroe: The Life and Death Of Marilyn Monroe

Marlow J Martin

Marilyn Monroe: Legend and Tragedy

David Morrell

The Marilyn Monroe Treasures

Jenna Glatzer

Marilyn Monroe: Unseen Archives

Marie Clayton

My Sister Marilyn: A Memoir of Marilyn Monroe

Berniece Miracle, Mona Miracle

Goddess: The Secret Lives of Marilyn Monroe

Anthony Summers

Marilyn Monroe &Joe DiMaggio – Love In Japan, Korea & Beyond

Jennifer Jean Miller

Holding a Good Thought for Marilyn: 1926-1954 The Hollywood Years

Stacy Eubank

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Marilyn Monroe: The Biography Paperback – July 17, 2001

• Print length 752 pages
• Language English
• Publisher Cooper Square Press
• Publication date July 17, 2001
• Dimensions 6.07 x 1.8 x 9.17 inches
• ISBN-10 0815411839
• ISBN-13 978-0815411833
• See all details

Editorial Reviews

About the author, product details.

• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Cooper Square Press (July 17, 2001)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Paperback ‏ : ‎ 752 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0815411839
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0815411833
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.65 pounds
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.07 x 1.8 x 9.17 inches
• #410 in Movie History & Criticism
• #2,102 in Actor & Entertainer Biographies
• #2,816 in Women's Biographies

About the author

Donald spoto.

Donald Spoto is the author of Blue Angel: The Life of Marlene Dietrich, Rebel: The Life and Legend of James Dean, The Dark Side of Genius: The Life of Alfred Hitchcock, Diana: The Last Year, The Hidden Jesus: A New Life, and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis: A Life.

Customer reviews

• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 5 star 61% 21% 10% 5% 3% 61%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 4 star 61% 21% 10% 5% 3% 21%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 3 star 61% 21% 10% 5% 3% 10%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 2 star 61% 21% 10% 5% 3% 5%
• 5 star 4 star 3 star 2 star 1 star 1 star 61% 21% 10% 5% 3% 3%

Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.

To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.

Customers say

Customers find the book well-researched, detailed, and informative. They describe it as a good, well-written read that provides new insights into a complex woman. Readers describe the biography as excellent and clear about how wonderful Marilyn was. They also mention the book is sturdy and a magnificent piece of work. However, some customers feel the narrative quality is didactic and skims over details.

AI-generated from the text of customer reviews

Customers find the book well-researched, detailed, and thorough. They say it's informative and does a good job stating facts. Readers also mention the book is incredible on many levels.

"...This book is incredible on many levels , but the area it outshines all others is the likely cause of her death...." Read more

"...This book is not full of sensationalism and made up wonderment about her, but simply (or not so simply) the facts of her life and for yourself you..." Read more

"...of it and I'm astonished by this writer's empathetic and comprehensive approach ...." Read more

"...Spoto strings together his research with a narrative that is both truthful and sympathetic, leaving the reader with a very humanistic and touching..." Read more

Customers find the book well-written and readable. They say the author has a great way of writing it so they feel like they are really there. Readers also mention the book is well-researched and riveting.

"...should have lost his medical license if found negligent.......... Excellent book , a must read.............." Read more

"...Overall though the book was very well written and kept my attention however whitewashed it was." Read more

"...This is a well-researched book but as it nears the conclusion of Marilyn Monroe's life IMO it distorts and omits many things going on at the time..." Read more

"...Donald Spoto had a great way of writing it so I felt like I was really there and it was easy to follow...." Read more

Customers find the book marvelous, touching, and engrossing. They say it provides new insights into a complex woman. Readers also mention the book is poignant and sad.

"...To me, this detail was delicious in every respect because I really wanted to know her background and how maybe she came to the life she lived and..." Read more

"...and sympathetic, leaving the reader with a very humanistic and touching portrait of one of the most legendary icons in American culture...." Read more

"...He makes her very human , and gives her credit where she deserves it, but still is truthful about her downfalls and flaws...." Read more

"...Beyond that, you will find this a thorough and engrossing portrayal of our most luminous screen goddess." Read more

Customers find the biography quality excellent and clear about Marilyn. They also say the author has no axe to grind against her.

"By far the best biography on Monroe ever written , with the author having no ax to grind against its subject...." Read more

"...This is the best Marilyn biography out there. I own almost 30 biographies on Marilyn and this is by far the best...." Read more

"...I'd say this is the definitive biography that doesn't get bogged down with rumors and sensationalism." Read more

"Along with the interesting story of Marilyn's life, I enjoyed the short biographies of the people that played a part in shaping her life." Read more

Customers find the book to be of excellent quality. They mention it's fragile and a magnificent piece of work.

"...a genuine 'study' of a woman who had a phenomenal talent, a remarkable resilience and a stunning drive for acceptance as a smart and able actor,..." Read more

"...to put this book down.... Thank you, Mr. Spoto for this magnificent piece of work . I wish we had known the truth a lot sooner." Read more

"...It is always the truth what he writes. It is a big book. Well put together ." Read more

" Great condition !" Read more

Customers find the book to be a study of a woman with phenomenal talent. They also say the author is one of the best on Marilyn.

"...Mr. Spoto has provided a genuine 'study' of a woman who had a phenomenal talent , a remarkable resilience and a stunning drive for acceptance as a..." Read more

"...A really extraordinary actress . Spoto does her justice in this and many other ways...." Read more

"Very good book about a beautiful person and tremendously talented actress who never really got to show the world her serious acting ability." Read more

"A lot of the same old. But Donald Spoto is one of the best on Marilyn . It is always the truth what he writes. It is a big book. Well put together." Read more

Customers find the narrative quality of the book didactic in the final third. They say the book jumps around and some threads of the narrative seem incomplete. Readers also mention the book is boring and unfocused.

"...Unfortunately that means Spoto skimming over very many details of Marilyn’s many affairs that shed light on her personal issues...." Read more

"...The book loses conviction and becomes didactic in the final third pursuing a theory that she was free of all of her demons, maturely in love, and..." Read more

"...A nice coincidence. There is no plot or story to follow here and it jumps around a little, but it was a fascinating read...." Read more

"...other material is woefully out of context, and some threads of the narratives seem incomplete . Also, he engages in a lot of armchair psychoanalysis...." Read more

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Good bio with A final chapter that leaves out certain details to promote authors theory

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6 of the Best Books About Marilyn Monroe

Jeffrey Davies

Jeffrey Davies is a professional introvert and writer with imposter syndrome whose work spans the worlds of pop culture, books, music, feminism, and mental health. In addition to Book Riot, his writing has appeared on HuffPost, Collider, PopMatters, Spectrum Culture, and other places. Find him on his website and follow him on Twitter @teeveejeff and Instagram @jeffreyreads . He is also the co-host of a Gilmore Girls podcast, Coffee With a Shot of Cynicism .

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I recently started listening to You Must Remember This , a film podcast exploring the secret and forgotten histories of Hollywood’s first century. Since I love Marilyn Monroe, the first episodes I chose to listen to were from their trilogy on the iconic blonde, tracing her rise as a model-turned-actress to her mysterious and untimely death from a drug overdose. I’m also a huge fan of the film My Week With Marilyn , based on Colin Clark’s memoir of the same name , in which Marilyn is played by Michelle Williams. (You can also keep an eye out for my own forthcoming memoir, Michelle Williams Was Robbed of Her Oscar For That Movie .)

Although my interest in Monroe has already led me to read several books about her, I also know that there are several Marilyn books and biographies that have been deemed suspect and/or untrustworthy over the years—merely more people looking to profit from Monroe’s beauty and talent, even in death. (Norman Mailer’s posthumous biography, Marilyn: A Biography , was especially controversial, alleging that she was murdered by the FBI and CIA for her secret affair with Robert Kennedy.) But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a good amount of decent books out there about Marilyn Monroe for pop culture enthusiasts who continue to be enthralled by her story over half a century after her death. So, if you are in the market for some interesting and trustworthy books about Marilyn, here are six titles to check out!

Note : Since Marilyn Monroe’s lifetime was not a particularly inclusive one for people of color (or women, for that matter), few of these titles were written by authors of color and may not represent the diverse literary atmosphere we strive for here at Book Riot.

The Girl: Marilyn Monroe, The Seven Year Itch, and the Birth of an Unlikely Feminist by Michelle Morgan

The Girl is an in-depth look at a specific period in Marilyn Monroe’s career in which she was transformed from merely an actress, wife, and contract player into a businesswoman and empowering feminist ahead of her time whose power and influence is still felt today.

“[Marilyn] fought inner demons; she constantly looked for the truth of her life and was prone to bouts of depression. In spite of that, she still achieved great heights and never let her anxiety stop her quest for knowledge and education. For Marilyn to except that she had problems, and to realize that in spite of them she was able to accomplish everything she did, was in itself empowering.”

Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon by Charles Casillo

Against all odds, Marilyn Monroe’s beauty, love life, and life story still captivate and dominate popular culture nearly six decades since her death, continuing to inspire every new generation. Drawing on new research and interviews, this biography explores Marilyn’s story from a fresh perspective and through the context of her times: in the days before feminism and before there was sufficient treatment for bipolar disorder, from which she suffered. But despite her long list of troubles,  Marilyn Monroe: The Private Life of a Public Icon  seeks to remind readers of Marilyn’s tireless ambition and drive for a better life.

“Marilyn’s life was compartmentalized. Because so much of her was publicized, she carefully boxed away segments of her life that she shared with very few—and even to those she gave only bits and pieces. So much of her belonged to the public. She wanted to keep a piece of herself to herself—it was a way to survive. That’s what makes her such a fascinating puzzle.”

Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letters by Marilyn Monroe by Stanley Buchthal and Bernard Comment

Marilyn Monroe’s every word and every gesture made headlines, and her serious talents as an actress were often overshadowed by her penchant for generating controversy. But beyond the headlines, there was a woman far more intelligent, curious, and witty than the one the world got to know. Fragments  allows insight and understanding into the other Marilyn, a sharp but fiercely private woman that is scarcely seen elsewhere. Featuring notes, poems, and letters, many of them in her own handwriting, along with rarely seen intimate photos.

MM-Personal: From the Private Archive of Marilyn Monroe by Lois Banner and Mark Anderson

Marilyn Monroe is our timeless icon of glamour, vulnerability, and the American dream whose star power remains as strongly felt now as it was in the 1950s.  MM-Personal is another look behind the veil of that legend, providing a look into the most fascinating relics and findings from her personal archive that have never before been revealed to the public. Selected from more than 10,000 previously unpublished items from Marilyn’s own filing cabinets, the documents that make up this book paint a vivid portrait of a woman horribly misunderstood by her own times.

My Story by Marilyn Monroe and Ben Hecht

This autobiography, which was written at the height of Marilyn’s fame but only published over a decade after her death, recounts her early years as a troubled, unwanted foster child and her rise in the film industry, as well as her marriage to Joe DiMaggio.  My Story  reveals what we now know to be true about Marilyn Monroe: she was a woman far more complex and intelligent than the blond bombshells she portrayed onscreen.

Marilyn: Norma Jeane by Gloria Steinem

In this provocative and meticulously detailed portrait of Marilyn Monroe, feminist pioneer and icon Gloria Steinem reveals the woman behind the myth, Norma Jeane, and the forces in American culture that have shaped her into the fantasy and icon that continues to endure. Including 16 pages of full-color photos, this biography was written by one feminist for another feminist.

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1950's cinema wouldn't be the same without the icon Marilyn Monroe, and Netflix's new biopic, Blonde , portrays her life as a beloved actress. She left a major mark on pop culture and since her untimely, tragic death in 1962 at the age of 36, the sensational star has been brought back to life, time and time again on both the big and small screen.

Many actresses have attempted to capture her rare spirit and pure charisma, but not all have been able to nail her mannerisms, speech and overall allure. From Michelle Williams to Poppy Montgomery, these are the best portrayals of the Hollywood icon.

Mira Sorvino - Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996)

Norma Jean & Marilyn was a made-for-TV biographical film created by HBO, which featured Mira Sorvino as the persona of Marilyn Monroe. One thing that makes this biopic unique is that there are two actresses playing Marilyn, both before and after her rise to fame, with Ashley Judd portraying the pre-fame Norma Jean Dougherty.

Related: Marilyn Monroe's 10 Best Quotes From Real Life

Mira Sorvino's Marilyn fights to repress her past, attempting to "kill" her old self by changing her name and her looks. Ahead of the 2022 Netflix film Blonde , Sorvino tweeted that "it was a huge honor and tremendous challenge playing the great Marilyn Monroe." Sorvino "wanted to do right by her" and clearly put a lot of time and effort into perfecting her character.

Susan Griffiths - Marilyn And Me (1991)

This 1991 biopic shows Marilyn's transformation from the girl next door to Hollywood icon, through the eyes of the journalist who claimed to have married her. Although the movie focuses more on their relationship, Susan Griffiths appears to have an uncanny resemblance to Marilyn and accurately displays her mannerisms down to a tee.

Griffiths had already been working as a Monroe impersonator before she got this role, and when interviewed by Tamela D'Amico , she said, "I had mastered making her facial expressions and body movements second nature, so it was more natural, less contrived." Griffiths put her heart and soul into this role, and the audience could tell.

Michelle Williams - My Week With Marilyn (2011)

My Week With Marilyn tells the story of Colin, an aspiring director who meets Monroe and forms a bond with her during a film shoot. Although Michelle Williams doesn't look exactly like Monroe, she captures her spirit and gives a mesmerizing performance throughout the film.

In an interview with CBS News , Williams revealed that she "walked around with a belt tied around her knees" to get Monroe's signature figure eight walk. Marilyn Monroe is a role Williams "would be happy to play for the rest of her life." Michelle Williams earned a lot of praise for her superb acting and clear dedication to the role.

Ashley Judd - Norma Jean & Marilyn (1996)

The second actress playing Marilyn in this biopic, Ashley Judd plays Norma Jean, Marilyn before the fame as the girl-next-door type, before the transformation into the Hollywood starlet she was known as. Judd's Norma Jean is tenacious and resilient, and nails her mannerisms as a young Marilyn Monroe before the stardom, revealing more secrets about the mystery of her troubled childhood.

Related: Marilyn Monroe's Top 10 Movies Ranked From Worst To Best

Speaking to The New York Times in 1996, Judd said of Monroe that "she was mesmerizing, dazzlingly beautiful, and American archetype in terms of coming from nothing and getting everything." She also said that "she's a great lesson. Success means nothing if you have no inner peace." Judd earned both a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for her role.

Kelli Garner - The Secret Life Of Marilyn Monroe (2015)

This miniseries starring Kelli Garner as Monroe delves deeper into her childhood and trauma surrounding her mother, played by Susan Sarandon. Garner's performance was full of passion, and shows a darker side to her personal life which, mostly, hasn't been seen before.

She plays her in the most respectful way possible, and the performance comes across as something natural. When speaking to Vanity Fair back in 2015, Garner said, "I read the script, and the book, which was really beautifully written. I felt like there was a lot to do." She also believes that "every young actress has a little Marilyn in her" showing her love for the icon, and her understanding of what she went through in the industry.

Melody Anderson - Marilyn And Bobby: Her Final Affair (1993)

This movie mainly focuses of the relationship between Marilyn Monroe and The Kennedys, but Anderson gives an incredible performance and her portrayal makes for some interesting viewing.

An article written for UPI stated that "Anderson prepared for the part by reading eight Monroe biographies and watching her movies," showing her dedication to the role by spending her time doing research. "Her voice quality changed on film and she behaved very differently than when she was being herself. She could turn Marilyn Monroe and and off".

Charlotte Sullivan - The Kennedys (2011)

This 2011 miniseries told the story of America's "royal family" as they navigated through political and social turmoil after the Second World War. Sullivan's performance as Monroe in the show wasn't the most accurate, but the audience got to see the well-known scenes between the public figures and the actors brought them to life, especially Sullivan.

Related: 10 Best Marilyn Monroe Movies Ranked (According To IMDB)

Speaking to The Toronto Sun , Sullivan "didn't do any research on the Kennedys." She also said, "I wanted to make her as real as humanly possible. She was one of the most compelling and intelligent human beings." The way she spoke in the movie mirrored that of Monroe and the way she spoke.

Poppy Montgomery - Blonde (2001)

The TV series adaptation of the novel written by Joyce Carol Oates shows the story of how Norma became Marilyn. Poppy Montgomery gives an amazing performance as Marilyn and brings the character to life, once again.

Speaking to Entertainment Weekly back in 2001, Montgomery said that her mother told her: "You've been rehearsing for it your whole life," showing Montgomery's love of the character. The director, Joyce Chopra, said that "Poppy in no way set out to imitate Marilyn, and I think she achieved a resemblance and was able to create a living, breathing character."

Catherine Hicks - Marilyn: The Untold Story (1980)

This 1980 TV film starring Catherine Hicks shows the start of Marilyn's career and her traumatic childhood with her mother. Hicks is shown to have taken this role very seriously, as Marilyn Monroe's mannerisms, quotes and even her voice accurately match that of Marilyn's.

Hicks had already played Monroe in a few productions while studying at college, and feels that Marilyn was still a part of her. In an interview with TV Store Online , Hicks said, "When I think about her, I'm never thinking that it's an adoration of a great movie star, but that she's my older sister. I felt then, that I have to act as a sort of Defense Attorney on her behalf so that her story is told." Hicks clearly cared about Monroe's truth and portrayed that to the best of her ability.

Misty Rowe - Goodbye, Norma Jean (1976)

Misty Rowe's performance as Marilyn Monroe in this 1976 biopic might not be the most accurate, but Rowe definitely cares about the character and is able to bring her memory back to the viewers while certainly looking the part.

Rowe was the first actress to play Monroe in a biopic, and Cosmopolitan said that she "plays one of Hollywood's most tragic sex symbols well enough to stand the comparison." Rowe also told The Irish World , "It was hard playing her. It's called ' Goodbye, Norma Jean ' because it's really about the end of the girl, and the beginning of a star." Rowe also said that "It was a lot of pressure being the first actress to play Marilyn Monroe on TV." She reprised her role in "Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn" in 1989.

Next: 10 Little Known Facts About Marilyn Monroe

• Marilyn Monroe

Best Marilyn Monroe Biography

1. My Week with Marilyn

3. The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes

4. Insignificance

5. The Rat Pack

6. Norma Jean & Marilyn

7. Goodbye, Norma Jean

8. Goodnight, Sweet Marilyn

9. Marilyn: The Untold Story

10. Marilyn and Me

11. Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair

13. The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe

14. The Goddess

15. The Sex Symbol

16. Marilyn: Something's Got to Give

17. Marilyn

More to explore, recently viewed.

15 Best Marilyn Monroe Movies to Stream Now

Just in time for the new biopic chronicling the icon's life.

Every item on this page was chosen by a Town & Country editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

From her signature platinum hair and red lipstick to her impeccable style, Marilyn Monroe was one of the most revered pop culture legends of the mid-20th century. Though her controversy-riddled life and tragic death often overshadow the work she did, the beloved icon proved to be a great talent, starring in several Hollywood blockbusters that still resonate with today's generation. Who can forget that iconic scene in The Seven Year Itch , when she wore a white dress over an NYC subway grate? Or when she sang "Diamonds Are a Girls Best Friend" in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes ? It's clear she was born to be in the spotlight.

Now more than ever, there has been a keen interest in Monroe's legacy, with several actresses portraying her on screen and a new biopic called Blonde starring Ana de Armas coming to Netflix on September 28 . Just in time for the upcoming film, we rounded up 15 of Monroe's best films and how to watch them online.

The Asphalt Jungle (1950)

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In one of her earliest roles, Monroe plays a young mistress to a crooked lawyer in this noir heist film about a $1 million jewel robbery in a mid-western city.

All About Eve (1950)

Shortly after The Asphalt Jungle , a then young and unknown Monroe landed herself another small gig in this hit movie starring Bette Davis and Anne Baxter. It tells the story of an aspiring actress who pushes her way into a Broadway star's inner circle.

As Young As You Feel (1951)

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Monroe has a small appearance as a foxy secretary in this small-budget 1951 comedy about a 65-year-old printer who devises an elaborate scheme to avoid forced retirement.

Clash by Night (1952)

STREAM ON WATCH TCM

Monroe's first major leading role in this film noir drama was overshadowed when her infamous nude calendar photos surfaced publicly. Nevertheless, it makes the list of one of her most remembered parts: She plays a supporting actress in this Barbara Stanwyck-led movie about an embittered love triangle.

Don't Bother to Knock (1952)

For one of her first serious leading roles, the then-rising star plays a disturbed babysitter who looks after a child at a hotel, where she encounters a cynical pilot (Richar Widmark). Shortly after meeting, it doesn't take long for him to realize Monroe's character shouldn't be taking care of the kid.

Monkey Business (1952)

Monroe shares the screen with Carey Grant and Ginger Rogers in this classic comedy about a chemist whose life gets turned upside down when his chimp discovers the fountain of youth.

Niagara (1953)

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Monroe's sex symbol star power takes center stage in the 1953 thriller set in Niagara Falls, where marital issues come to the surface for a honeymooning couple.

Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

In perhaps her most iconic flick, Monroe stars alongside Jane Russell as a man-hungry showgirl who boards a cruise ship to Paris and gets tangled up with millionaires, a private detective, and other shenanigans.

How to Marry a Millionaire (1953)

Monroe shares the screen with fellow Hollywood darlings Lauren Bacall and Betty Grable in this comedy about three women who set out to find, you guessed it, eligible bachelors who are millionaires to marry, only to find true love along the way.

There's No Business Like Show Business (1954)

This 1954 musical chronicles the careers of a vaudeville act husband-and-wife duo played by Ethel Merman and Dan Daily, and their three performer children. When their son (Donald O'Connor) falls in love with a hatcheck girl, played by none other than Monroe, the family begins to fall apart.

The Seven Year Itch (1955)

The Seven Year Itch tells the story of a married man who becomes infatuated and smitten with his blonde bombshell neighbor.

Bus Stop (1956)

Monroe shows off her impressive acting chops in this rom-com drama, where she plays a saloon singer who becomes the romantic object of a naive yet stubborn cowboy's affections.

The Prince and the Show Girl (1957)

In this 1957 drama, the plot centers on an American showgirl (Monroe) who becomes entangled in international intrigue after a Prince Regent of a foreign country (Laurence Olivier) tries to seduce her.

Some Like It Hot (1959)

Monroe's role in this laugh-out-loud flick, which revolves around two male musicians who disguise themselves as women and join an all-girl band, earned her a Golden Globe Award.

The Misfits (1961)

Monroe moved away from her typecast role of a dumb blonde in what would become her and Clark Gable's last released film. Written by Monroe’s then-husband, Arthur Miller, the western drama follows a newly divorced woman (Monroe) who falls in love with an old-school cowboy (Gable) and gets mixed up in his world of misfits.

Sophie Dweck is the associate shopping editor for Town & Country, where she covers beauty, fashion, home and décor, and more. 

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World History Edu

• Entertainment and Pop Culture / U.S. History

Marilyn Monroe: Birth, Childhood, Famous Films, Achievements, & Death

by World History Edu · December 1, 2020

Marilyn Monroe (1926 – 1962)

Considered by many to be one of the greatest actresses of all time, Marilyn Monroe triumphed over adversities and the “dumb blonde” tag to forever change the movie industry in Hollywood. Even to this day, she remains probably the most enduring sex symbols in the pop culture.

However, there was more to her than those typecast film roles; Marilyn Monroe showed on numerous occasions how versatile a performer she was, as her films grossed more than $200 million. She also established a film production company in the mid-1950s.

As her career peaked, the demons of her past came back to haunt her. With mounting pre-performance anxieties, a series of failed relationships and marriages, and drug abuse problems, her health started to deteriorate. 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

Birth date 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

Also Known As – 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 Famous films – 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. Her birth place was at the Los Angeles County Hospital in Los Angeles, California.  To this day, the name of Marilyn Monroe’s father remains unknown. Her mother Baker insisted , although without any tangible evidence, for quite some time that Monroe’s father was Charles Stanley, a Consolidated Studios worker.

Monroe’s mother, who had married at the age of 15, had two other children – Robert and Berniece – from her marriage to John Newton Baker. Baker’s problems started after those children of hers were taken away from her by their father.

Due to her mother’s mental state, which was worsened by her deplorable financial situation, Monroe was placed in the care of Grace and Doc Goddard. Her foster family were deeply religious, and often times, they banned young Monroe from going to the movies.

With mounting personal problems, her mother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and committed to a mental institution. This meant that Monroe spent very little time with her mother, moving from one foster home to another. Monroe stated that she was sexually abused and raped at the age of eleven in one of the foster homes she grew up in.

Did you know : Marilyn Monroe was only two weeks old when she got introduced to her first foster home – the home of Ida and Wayne Bolender in Hawthorne, California?

Turbulent Childhood and Early Marriage

The absence of her mother, as well as the abuses she endured in her childhood, left a huge scar in her life. She even temporarily developed a stutter and became quite shy.

In September 1938, she moved in with Ana Lower, Grace’s aunt, in Sawtelle, Los Angeles. Monroe studied at the Emerson Junior High School, where she was involved in the school newspaper. She did however have very poor academic results.

In 1941, she moved back to the Goddards in Van Nuys. While there, she enrolled at Van Nuys High School. A year later, the Goddards had to move to West Virginia, leaving Monroe in California. Not wanting to go back to an orphanage, Monroe, 16, opted to get married to a 21-year-old factory worker called James Dougherty. With no proper adult supervision, Monroe dropped out of school to become a housewife – a job she came to despise very much.

Early modelling career

During World War II , her husband was shipped out to the Pacific and Monroe went to stay at her in-laws, taking up a job at a munitions factory in Van Nuys.

In 1944, she resigned from her factory job and started modelling. She was introduced to the profession by photographer David Conover. Connover had been tasked to shoot pictures that would be used to boost the morale of U.S. soldiers fighting in World War II.

Going against her husband’s strong wishes**, Monroe proceeded to sign onto Blue Book Model Agency around late summer of 1945. To boost her image in the industry, she dyed her hair blonde.  She started by appearing in a number of men’s magazines and other minor advertisements. 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. Even though she struggled initially, Monroe was determined to break into the industry. She was given a six-month contract by Darryl F. Zunuck, an executive at 20th Century-Fox. It was around this time that she chose the name “Marilyn Monroe”. “Monroe” was her mother’s maiden name while “Marilyn” was derived from Marilyn Miller, a Broadway star.

Initially, she struggled to get any acting gigs; hence she decided to prop up her acting skills by taking a number of classes in acting and dancing.

Her film breakthrough came in February 1947, when she was given a minor role in Dangerous Years (1947), directed Arthur Pierson. The following year, she appeared in a F. Hugh Herbert directed film titled Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948).

After the tutors at the Actors’ Laboratory Theatre stated that she was too shy and sometimes insecure, Fox declined to renew her contract. Rather than let the news get her down, she continued refining her skills by studying at the Actors’ Lab. In the following years, she also relied heavily on building contacts with film producers and gossip columnists.

Recommended by Fox executive Joseph M. Schenck, Monroe was able to secure a contract with Columbia Pictures in March 1948. After a series of minor roles in several movies, she finally got a starring role the musical Ladies of the Chorus (1948) .

From 1948 to 1953, she starred in several critically acclaimed movies, including minor roles in Love Happy (1949), A Ticket to Tomahawk (1950), Right Cross (1951), Don’t Bother to Knock (1952), etc.

Monroe starred in the 1950 heist film The Asphalt Jungle . The film, which was directed by John Hutson, saw her appear alongside stars such as Sterling Hayden, Jean Hagen, and Louis Calhern. The film received four Academy Awards nomination. 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. In February, 1952, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association described Monroe as the “Best young box office personality”.

Marilyn Monroe Biography | Image: Monroe with Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon in Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot (1959)

Personal problems and career challenges

As much as she tried, she struggled to shake off the typecast role of a “dumb blonde” she played so brilliantly well on screen.  She knew she had to dedicate herself to the craft in order to get different roles, taking extensive acting classes under the tutelage of Michael Chekhove and Natasha Lytess. The Hollywood executives fought back, insisting that Monroe’s typecast roles were huge money earners for their studies.

The immense public scrutiny and contract negotiations troubled her to some extent. She got hooked on drugs and alcohol, causing her to be very tardy, and in some cases, forgetting her lines on set. The problems had gotten so pronounced that she started having problems with cast members and directors. To calm her anxiety and lingering stage fright, she used quite a lot barbiturates and amphetamines. At one point, she even overdosed and had to be rushed to the hospital. All of those substances compounded her life and personal relationships.

This chaotic side of hers flared up during the production of the critically acclaimed and successful 1959 romantic comedy Some Like It Hot. Monroe’s starring performance, alongside Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon, helped earn her a Golden Globe for Best Actress. But production of the film was challenged by Monroe’s constant request for re-takes. Both the cast and the film’s director, Billy Wilder, got quite infuriated by her behavior on set. 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. The studios knew that by portraying her as “dumb blonde” she would remain a bankable performer for the immediate future. Extensive efforts were put into making her a very marketable Hollywood star; her well-managed public image further enhanced her standing in popular culture.

Did you know : Between 1956 and 1958, Marilyn Monroe suffered a number of miscarriages? Barring that she may have suffered from endometriosis, the sheer stress of being a huge Hollywood star as well as the debilitating effects of her drug usage were just some of the contributory factors to her miscarriages.

Relationships and Marriages

Monroe and her third husband Arthur Miller at their wedding in June 1956

In the course of her brief life, Monroe dated several Hollywood stars and executives. She married on three occasions, the first one, which was to James Dougherty, happened when she was just 16 years old. The marriage ended in a divorce after Dougherty disagreed with her modelling job.

In January, 1954, Marilyn Monroe tied the knot with retired baseball player Joe DiMaggio at a ceremony at San Francisco City Hall. The couple took time off and travelled to Japan to spend their honeymoon. In just less than a year, the couple’s marriage came to an end, as Di Maggio struggled to handle the immense publicity that came with Monroe’s acting career.

During the divorce proceedings, she dated an A-list of Hollywood stars, including Marlon Brando. It was around this time that she got introduced to playwright Arthur Miller. In spite of the studio’s strong urging to Monroe to end the affair, Monroe went ahead to tie the knot, for a third time, with Miller on June 29, 1956. Her new husband was under some level of pressure as it was alleged that he had some connections with communists in the country. The House Un-American Activities Committee even subpoenaed Miller.

She received some amount of backlash from countries abroad, including Egypt, for converting to Judaism after marrying Arthur Miller.

Did you know : Monroe-Miller’s marriage was described by Variety as “Egghead Weds Hourglass”?

Achievements of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe achievements

Here are some of Marilyn Monroe’s notable achievements and awards:

• Her films grossed over $200 million , that’s around $2 billion in today’s standards.
• Arguably the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s, she revolutionized the “dumb blonde” role, influencing several artists, including Kim Novak, Diana Dors, Andy Warhol, Madonna, etc.
• The superfeminine trait she exhibited in some films turned her into a famous pop culture icon , perhaps on the same level as Elvis Presley.
• The American Film Institute ranked her as the sixth greatest female screen legends from the Golden Age of Hollywood.
• Monroe’s film Bus Stop (1965) earned her a Golden Globe for Best Actress nomination.
• In Europe, she received the Italian David di Donatello and the French Crystal Star.
• Her film The Prince and the Showgirl (1957) earned her a BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) nomination .
• After staring in Some Like It Hot (1959), she received a Golden Globe for Best Actress. Her performance in the film is part of the reason the film is considered one of the best films ever made. Even though the troubled side of hers flared up during the production of this romantic comedy, the film got a total of six Academy Award nominations. In 1989, the Library of Congress placed Some Like It Hot in its National Film Registry as it was considered “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
• In 1954, she and photographer Milton Green established a film production company and called it Marilyn Monroe Productions .

Did you know : On May 19, 1962, Marilyn Monroe sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” at President John F. Kennedy ‘s birthday celebration at the Madison Square Garden, New York? And the gown she wore on that night sold for $4.8 million at an auction in 2016. The buyer, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, stated that the gown was the “most iconic piece of pop culture”.

Marilyn Monroe’s Hollywood Star

Marilyn Monroe’s death and funeral

On August 4, 1962, Marilyn Monroe died at her home in Los Angeles after a barbiturate overdose. Her body was found dead by her housekeeper Eunice Murray and her psychiatrist Dr. Ralph Greenson. Monroe’s death was confirmed by Dr. Hyman Engelberg, who arrived to the scene later.

According to the coroner report, her death was due to an acute barbiturate poisoning. Giving credence to this report were the empty medicine bottles found by her bedside. Investigators at the Los Angeles Police Department stated that her death was a probable suicide.

Monroe’s funeral was held at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery on August 8, 1962. After the private ceremony, her body was entombed at Crypt No. 24 in the Corridor of Memories.

Monroe is best remembered for her ability to draw on the numerous personal problems she encountered and turn them into an absolutely captivating  on-screen performance.

Marilyn Monroe

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• Shocking Details About Her Death
• Men & Women She Loved
• Her Best Kept Beauty Secrets
• Marilyn Monroe's Very Best Movies
• Fun Facts Every Fan Should Know
• Quotes Attributed to Marilyn
• Famous Interviews
• Great Movies About Marilyn Monroe

The Best Movies About Marilyn Monroe, Ranked

From documentary films to biopics, we're ranking the best movies about Marilyn Monroe. The American actress and Hollywood icon has been depicted numerous times in film and TV, but this list only features movies where Marilyn Monroe is the central character based on her real life. What is the best Marilyn Monroe movie?

Awarded the Golden Globe for Best Actress, Michelle Williams portrayed Marilyn Monroe in  My Week with Marilyn . Some good Marilyn Monroe documentaries and biography films include Blonde , Norma Jean & Marilyn , The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe,  and Love, Marilyn .

Vote up the best movies about Marilyn Monroe, you might even be able to watch them on Netflix or other streaming service.

Marilyn Monroe: The Final Days

Marilyn Monroe: The Final Day s serves as a compelling documentary that delves deep into the last moments of the iconic actress's life, unraveling the enigmatic persona of the legendary Marilyn Monroe. The film showcases an array of captivating interviews, archival footage, and previously unseen materials that shed light on the final days of Monroe's life. With its unparalleled access and a poignant narration, this gripping documentary stands as a testament to Monroe's indomitable spirit and enduring impact on the world of cinema.

• Released : 2001
• Directed by : Patty Ivins Specht

We Remember Marilyn

We Remember Marilyn is a heartwarming tribute to the legendary Marilyn Monroe, commemorating the actress through poignant personal stories, unforgettable anecdotes, and cherished memories from her loved ones. This tender film not only humanizes the larger-than-life screen siren but also reinforces the lasting impact her undeniable charisma, unmatched talent, and vivacious personality continue to have on her adoring fans worldwide.

• Released : 1996
• Directed by : Ted Newsom

Marilyn is a captivating film that showcases the fascinating journey of Marilyn Monroe from her humble beginnings as Norma Jeane to her meteoric rise to stardom, capturing the essence of the iconic actress with riveting performances and spellbinding visuals. The film's stellar cast masterfully portrays the complex facets of Monroe's personality, her troubled relationships, and her quest for love and acceptance, thereby immortalizing the timeless beauty and her enduring impact on the world of cinema.

• Released : 1963
• Directed by : Henry Koster

Love, Marilyn

Love, Marilyn is an exquisite tribute to the life and legacy of Marilyn Monroe, featuring a star-studded cast of Hollywood's finest actors and actresses who bring life to the words penned by Monroe herself. Based on her personal letters, diaries, and poems, the film paints a vivid picture of the inner world of the enigmatic actress, allowing audiences a rare glimpse into her thoughts, fears, and desires. A true celebration of the timeless beauty and extraordinary talent that Marilyn embodied, Love, Marilyn stands as a testimony to her everlasting allure and influence.

• Released : 2012
• Directed by : Liz Garbus

The Private Life of Marilyn Monroe

The Private Life of Marilyn Monroe is an enthralling portrayal of the legendary actress's life beyond the spotlight, exploring her relationships, aspirations, and demons with startling candor and sensitivity. The stellar cast deftly captures the essence of the complex woman that Monroe was, offering audiences a rare glimpse into the world of this unforgettable icon. The evocative performances and masterful storytelling ensure that the legacy of Marilyn Monroe continues to shine, illuminating the hearts and minds of her ardent admirers.

• Released : 2013
• Directed by : Gary LeGault

Norma Jean & Marilyn

Norma Jean & Marilyn is a spellbinding tale of transformation, depicting the life and times of Norma Jeane Baker as she metamorphoses into the enigmatic Marilyn Monroe. The dual roles, brilliantly portrayed by Ashley Judd and Mira Sorvino, peel back the layers of Monroe's complex personality, capturing her vulnerability, resilience, and irresistible allure. This captivating film pays fitting tribute to the indomitable spirit of the timeless beauty that was Marilyn Monroe.

• Directed by : Tim Fywell

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The 10 Best documentaries about Marilyn Monroe

Aug 4, 2023 | Best Of , Celebrities

Marilyn Monroe is one of the most iconic figures of the 20th century. She was a movie star, a muse, and a passionate advocate for justice. Her story has been told many times over in films, books, and even documentaries. If you’re looking to learn more about this remarkable woman, here’s our list of the best documentaries about Marilyn Monroe.

1. Marilyn Monroe: A Story With No End

If there was ever a life that is equally as iconic as it is mysterious, it’s the one lived by Marilyn Monroe. From her humble beginnings in Los Angeles to becoming the world’s most famous blonde bombshell, she has been an enduring symbol of beauty and celebrity throughout the years. Despite living such a short life, Marilyn left behind a legacy that continues to fascinate and inspire people to this day. Marilyn was born in the summer of 1926; her early years were a struggle between poverty and travesty, culminating in her being placed in foster homes at age eleven. These events only seemed to strengthen Marilyn’s spirit, as she rose above her destitute upbringing and worked hard to become one of the most beloved entertainers of her time.

2. What made Marilyn Monroe so beautiful? Beauty analysis of the 20th century’s greatest movie star

Marilyn Monroe was truly an icon of beauty. She captivated audiences with her striking features and charismatic allure. Norma Jeane Mortenson, who took on the iconic name Marilyn Monroe, had a life story that will soon be depicted in the biopic Blonde. Her roles in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, and Some Like It Hot have stood the test of time as some of her most memorable performances. Beyond her acting career, Marilyn’s captivating beauty was undeniable. From her signature platinum blonde hair to her sultry curves, she had a look that was distinctly her own. Even today, fashion icons like Kim Kardashian can be seen paying homage to Monroe with their own versions of the classic style.

3. Marilyn Monroe Documentary

Marilyn Monroe’s life was full of obstacles and heartbreak, from the lack of parental guidance to the inability to find love in her various marriages. The turbulent path that led her to Hollywood fame was dotted with attractive men but her tragic story only ended in a desperate search for answers. The numerous foster homes she had lived in, along with her difficult experience at the orphanage , left her longing for her father’s embrace and wishing for an understanding love she could never find. Her life was further complicated by her association with the American president, a decision which eventually led to her downfall.

4. 55 Marilyn Monroe’s looks from her 7 most famous movies

Marilyn Monroe’s timeless beauty has enchanted the public for decades. From her classic platinum blonde hair to her iconic curves, it’s no surprise that the starlet is still considered a fashion icon today. Here are 55 of Marilyn’s most memorable looks from seven of her most notable films. From All About Eve (1950) came a hypnotic black-and-white scene of Marilyn in a beaded gown, looking like a glamour queen as she sashayed down the staircase. In Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) her flamboyant pink dress and feathered headdress made for an unforgettable performance. For The Seven Year Itch (1955) there was her iconic white pleated dress, billowing in the wind. Marilyn made an entrance as Sugar Kane in Some Like It Hot (1959) wearing a tight-fitting silk top and full skirt combo that left everyone speechless. For Let’s Make Love (1960) she brought out her inner bombshell, sporting a glitzy sequin dress with a plunging neckline. In The Misfits (1961) she was a vision in an angelic white wedding dress, her blonde hair cascading down her shoulders. Last but not least, we have Niagara (1953), where Marilyn looked absolutely stunning in a bright red halter neck frock.

5. Behind The Glamour: Marilyn Monroe’s Tragic Life Story

Marilyn Monroe has left an indelible mark on modern pop culture. From her iconic blonde hair to those unforgettable curves, she is immortalized in movies, TV shows and public discourse around the world. Her star power remains strong even after her untimely death in 1962. Even now, there are countless tributes to this cultural icon from fans of all generations. People still quote her iconic lines, recreate her classic poses and dress in homage to her style. She is truly an icon whose memory lives on forever.

6. The Seriously Tragic Life Of Marilyn Monroe

Marilyn Monroe has become an iconic figure in pop culture, remembered for her blonde bombshell characters that made her the face of the ’50s and ’60s sexual revolution. However, behind the glamour and success of stardom lies a troubled life filled with personal struggles, media scrutiny and scandal. Elton John and Bernie Taupin paid tribute to this Hollywood actress in 1973 with the song “Candle In The Wind”. This track speaks of fame, youth and a life cut short before its prime. It has been close to 60 years since Marilyn Monroe’s death, yet her impact lives on as an eternal reminder of what could have been and an example that reminds us all of the fragility and beauty of life. She serves as an inspiration for anyone who has felt overwhelmed by the harsh realities of life.

7. History’s Mysteries – The Death Of Marilyn Monroe

One of the biggest mysteries to ever come out of Hollywood’s golden age is without a doubt, the death of Marilyn Monroe. She was known as an iconic glamour symbol and starlet who had millions of fans all around the world. But on August 5th, 1962, she was found dead in her home, and what happened on that fateful day has remained a mystery ever since. While the official cause of death was determined to be an overdose of barbiturates, there have been many theories and rumors that suggest foul play or a larger conspiracy. Some believe she was murdered by someone in her inner circle who had a motive for wanting her gone, while others argue that she was killed as part of some kind of political plot. There have even been rumors that the FBI or CIA were somehow involved in her death. The truth may never be known, and as time passes, it’s becoming increasingly unlikely that we’ll ever know what really happened to Marilyn Monroe on that fateful day. But one thing is for sure: she will always remain an iconic figure whose memory will live on forever. From her iconic films to her captivating beauty, Marilyn Monroe will always remain an enigma that will forever be shrouded in mystery and intrigue.

8. Marilyn Monroe: The Iconic Blonde

Marilyn Monroe, who we all know and love as Norma Jean Mortenson, is a figure that has transcended generations. Her beauty and charm have aspired people around the world for decades since her first leading role in Some Like It Hot, The Prince and the Showgirl, Niagara and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Netflix recently made a film dedicated to her life, aptly titled Blonde and brilliantly acted by Ana de Armas . However, Monroe’s life was anything but the fairytale romance of her classic films. Her mother rarely showed any affection while her father abandoned his family early on.

9. Unsolved Mysteries- Marilyn Monroe Conspiracy Theory Documentary

Marilyn Monroe was a Hollywood icon- her beauty, talent and charisma seemed to have no bounds. Yet behind the glamorous facade lies a dark mystery that has never been fully solved. This documentary investigates the possibility that her untimely death was not an accidental overdose, but a planned murder. With exclusive access to witnesses and experts, this film unravels the clues and examines shocking evidence to get to the truth. From stories of missing documents and secret agents, to claims of a powerful conspiracy- this is one fascinating story that needs to be heard. Featuring interviews with journalists, authors and witnesses who knew Marilyn personally, as well as archival footage from her life in Hollywood, this is a gripping exploration of her death. Uncover the secrets that have been kept hidden for so long, and find out what really happened to the world’s most beloved starlet. Was Marilyn Monroe really murdered? Watch this documentary and decide for yourself.

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