Marilyn Monroe’s Anniversary: The many faces of a Hollywood icon

Were she alive today, Marilyn Monroe would have turned 91. Norma Jeane Mortenson, who will become better known around the world as the glamorous actress and Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California.

Monroe was raised in a succession of foster homes, her last name Mortenson was replaced by Baker, her mother’s maiden name, before her transformation into the icon recognised worldwide by one name: Marilyn.

After her mother Gladys Pearl Baker was institutionalised, she was placed with 11 sets of foster parents and even spent one year in the Children’s Aid Society Orphanage in Los Angeles, although she was never an orphan.

Despite her difficult childhood, Marilyn Monroe went on to star in 29 films including “The Seven Year Itch,” “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” “Some Like It Hot” and “The Misfits” and became one of the most celebrated actresses of all time.

Monroe had three husbands, including baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and celebrated playwright Arthus Miller. She was 16 years-old when she married her first husband James Dougherty.

Her beauty and charisma contributed to the image of a true sex symbol, although behind the glamorous exterior the actress struggled with her own demons and emotional issues.

Marilyn Monroe was found dead on August 5, 1962, at her home in Los Angeles of a barbiturate overdose.

Here are a few less known facts about the movie star which offer a peek of the many faces of a Hollywood icon, Marilyn Monroe.

Trademark voice and looks were carefully crafted

Marilyn developed her trademark breathy voice at the age of 16, after watching a seductive woman sell snacks in a movie theatre.

She tried nine different shades of blonde hair colour before finally settling on her trademark platinum.

Although she famously sang Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend, Marilyn didn’t own much expensive jewellery.

Despite her incredible sex-appeal, Monroe struggled with weight issues. Her weight went up and down so dramatically during the filming of “The Prince and the Showgirl” that the costume designer had to create facsimile dresses in different sizes.

Marilyn Monroe had to be literally sewn into her famous beaded “Happy Birthday, JFK” gown. The dress was sold at auction for £820,000 in 1999.

At the time it was the record price for a single item of clothing until Marilyn’s billowing white Seven Year Itch dress was put up for sale by Debbie Reynolds in 2011, where it made £2.8 million.

Marilyn always kept learning and reading

Even though she dropped out of school at age 15, Marilyn was aware that acting skills were needed in order to receive more serious roles.

She was rarely without an acting coach. Her first one, Natasha Lytess, worked with her for six years and 22 films, clashing with directors, whose authority she challenged, and studio heads, who paid her bills.

Her personal library contained four hundred books, including classics like Dostoyevsky and John Milton, and modern authors like Ernest Hemingway and Jack Kerouac.

While she wasn’t shooting film, Monroe took literature and history night classes at UCLA.

Marilyn  Monroe was only the second woman to head her own production company (Mary Pickford was the first).