An anti-climax from Marilyn Monroe’s deathbed, the controversies surrounding her passing, and the glamorous sex symbol lifestyle she lived shows that her story will remain etched in history.
Marilyn Monroe, a name almost synonymous with classic Hollywood and forever etched in history. It belonged to a woman with an evergreen status as Hollywood’s ultimate sex symbol.
Before the likes of Angelina Jolie and Leonardo DiCaprio captivated the world with their exceptional sex symbol status, there was Marilyn Monroe. But take away that glamor and blonde bombshell signature to see the strong woman who endured childhood trauma.
Marilyn Monroe Had A Difficult Childhood
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson and christened Norma Jeane Baker, Monroe started her life in Los Angeles, California, as the daughter of Gladys Baker. Gladys was a film cutter and the sole provider because Monroe’s dad was not in the picture right from the start.
As time went on, Gladys could not take care of her daughters anymore and Monroe ended up in foster homes. Gladys’ neighbor, Grace, and her husband, Doc Goddard, took Monroe in until she was seven.
However, while Monroe lived with the couple, Doc sexually abused her. By the time she was seven, Doc’s job had taken him far. Monroe returned to her mom, who was now financially stable enough to take care of their little family.
This was not to last because Gladys experienced a mental breakdown after a while. Doctors would later diagnose her as a paranoid schizophrenic. Once again, Monroe was separated from her mother and taken to another foster home.
The young Monroe moved from different foster homes before she was eventually taken in at the Los Angeles Orphanage Home. The living condition at the orphanage was relatively humane, but it did not shield Monroe from abuse.
Monroe Found A Way Out Of Her Hardship
The “The Prince and the Showgirl” actress dropped out of school at the age of 15 and started fending for herself. Monroe eventually got a way out of the hardship when she met and married James Dougherty, a merchant marine.
She got married at the age of 16, and this was when she decided to work on her dreams of becoming an actress. After Monroe’s spouse was drafted by the military, she started working at a factory in Van Nuys.
It was there that a photographer discovered her. Monroe soon became a model, and by the time her husband returned in 1946, she had become successful. The actress also bagged her first movie gig that same year.
Inside Her Acting Career
Way into the 1940s and 1950s, Monroe built her reputation as Hollywood’s prima donna. She starred in several movies, but her career did not immediately get a breakthrough.
She was cast in B movies, and Monroe’s anxiety would often get in the way of her expertise. Her anxiety got so bad it would often affect her physically. However, this did not hold her back as she kept forging ahead.
The “Some Like It Hot” actress bagged a number of international awards and honors as time went on. This came with recognition, and in little time, Monroe became known for her acting prowess.
She was signed to Twentieth Century Fox, where she bagged more career-boosting roles. Some of her acting credits include “Anyone Can Tell I Love You,” “The Ladies of the Chorus,” “All About Eve, “The Asphalt Jungle,” “Niagara,” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”
“Niagara” and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” were Monroe’s golden ticket to becoming the Hollywood sex symbol. But, by the mid-1950s, Monroe wanted more than being cast in sex charmer and sexpot roles.
Marilyn Monroe’s Decline and Death
Monroe had become that actress whose movies grossed over $200 million. While she wanted more, she worked closely with filmmaker Lee Strasberg and underwent psychoanalysis to learn more about herself.
At 27, Monroe was at the pinnacle of success, and she could bag some serious roles. However, her personal life was on to a steep decline. Outwardly, she was that lady with the sunny smile and had become the most famous actress.
However, behind closed doors, Monroe battled drug use, infections, miscarriages, and gynecological surgery. Her work ethic was significantly affected due to chronic lateness and drug issues. This caused her to fall from Grace among movie makers.
On August 4, 1962, Monroe started her day with threatening phone calls, and things took a turn from there. By the end of the day, there was a tragic announcement that Monroe had passed away.
The Hollywood beauty was found dead in her Brentwood home with a telephone dangling on her hand. Authorities ruled her death as an accidental overdose. An empty Nembutal capsule bottle was found near Marilyn Monroe’s deathbed.
Marilyn Monroe died at 36 but made her mark in classic Hollywood as a superstar who was way ahead of time. Her entertainment works remain a point of reference in fashion and other aspects of the celebrity life.
