By Dell Publications – Wikimedia

Top 10 Shocking Facts about Marilyn Monroe


 

Marilyn Monroe is one of the most celebrated people of the 20th century. She was a talented actress and a singer. She was born in 1926 and had a difficult childhood.

It may surprise you that despite being celebrated today, Marilyn never won an Academy Award. During her lifetime, many did not think she was talented hence the low pay she got.

Her performances in several classic films brought out her elegance and style. Many that worked with her took her to be just blonde, she was more than that.    

Most of the roles Marilyn played were funny and she captured the hearts of many on and off the screen. Marilyn went on to be one of the most influential women in history.

The span of her career in Hollywood lasted a decade. Her untimely passing at the age of 36 shocked many and was surrounded by mystery.

I have put together the top 10 shocking facts about Marilyn Monroe.

1. Troops first: Marilyn Monroe cut short her honeymoon for the troops

By Cpl. Welshman – Wikimedia

Just like Marlene Dietrich, Marilyn Monroe dedicated her time entertaining the war troops during WWII. During this time, Marilyn was a teen wife and worked in a factory that made military drones.

A photographer searching for subjects to inspire the troops noticed Marilyn and her be his muse. She took some suggestive photos that were sent to the troops in Korea.

Later on, Marilyn was featured more in army publications such as Stars and Stripes. At the same time, her career was taking off.

To give back to the army, she cut short her honeymoon with her second husband and went to Korea. She did 10 shows in the 4 days she was there.

 Monroe described this experience as the best thing that ever happened to her.

2. Marilyn Monroe was sent to foster homes by her mother

By Dell Publications – Wikimedia

Monroe was not privileged enough to grow up with her parents. Her mother suffered from mental issues and had Marilyn sent to a foster home.

For this reason, Monroe’s mother spent most of her time in mental institutions. The first foster home that Monroe was sent to was an evangelical Christian home.

Monroe was under the care of Albert and Ida Bolender in Hawthorne. She lived with them for six months. Her mother would visit her during the weekends.

Marilyn lived with her mother briefly in 1934 after she bought a small house in Hollywood. This stay was short-lived because her mom was admitted to the metropolitan state hospital.    

3. Marilyn Monroe had a stutter

AS time went by, Monroe’s living situation kept changing. She lived with one family for about 16 months and was sexually abused.

This experience made her shy, withdrawn and even developed a stutter.  She later moved and stayed with a different family in 1935, two families later, Monroe was sent to an orphanage in Los Angeles.

Unfortunately, Monroe did not like it there because she felt abandoned. One of her foster moms was made her legal guardian.

Her childhood experiences made her want to become an actor. She used to be sent to the movies to get out of the foster homes. She loved the concept of acting because it made her escape her reality.

4. Marilyn Monroe got married to avoid being sent back to the orphanage

By Dell Publications – Wikimedia

Monroe married her first husband, Jim Dougherty when she was 16 years old. She did this to escape going back to foster home. Her first marriage lasted for four years.

The foster family that Monroe was staying with was planning a move to West Virginia.

Since Monroe did not want to go back to being fostered, she got married to James Dougherty who was four years her senior.

5. Monroe loved to read

There was a misconception about Marilyn Monroe being blonde and dumb. Many people did not know that she loved to read.

During her lifetime Monroe owned a library with more than 400 books. Her collection was made up of bestsellers. Some of the authors are F. Scott Fitzgerald, John Steinbeck, and Tennessee Williams.

The list of the books from her shelves were first editions and was of different genres. She also loved photographers who took photos of her reading.

How she picked her books was by perusing through the book, if she loved a page or a paragraph, she bought the book.

6. She was not very pleasant to work with

By Macfadden Publications – Wikimedia

Monroe made it difficult to work with her once she became successful. Those that worked closely with her said Monroe was unpredictable.

She would show up late for shoots and forget her lines. Monroe made everyone wait around for her. Her emotional state was also said to be part of the reason for new erratic behaviour.

Her lateness and frequent absences cost the productions thousands of dollars. She was fired from this production.

She never made it to another set because her behaviour never changed. Monroe would freeze in of the camera and forgot her lines.

Despite being successful in Hollywood, Monroe was insecure and felt vulnerable. She could not proceed with her acting roles without the approval of her acting coach.

7.  Marilyn Monroe had her acting contract cancelled because she refused sexual advances

Monroe used to get some of her acting roles through sexual favours. Most of the studio executives would use that to give her roles.

She had had enough of this and turned down one executive who wanted her to agree to sign a deal only after they were intimate. After she turned him down, the studio cancelled her contract.

Despite her good looks and glamorous status Monroe went broke in 1949. She was forced to take some risqué photos to get some money.

8. Monroe did not have it easy in Hollywood

By Dell Publications – Wikimedia

When Monroe started in Hollywood, she got a casting coach. The casting coach helped her take lessons and the parts she got.

Her success in Hollywood was not earned overnight. In fact, most directors did not find her to be talented. Even with expired film contracts, Monroe believed she would triumph in Hollywood.  

9. Marilyn Monroe was being watched by the FBI

When Monroe was in a relationship with Miller, the FBI suspected their relationship since she allegedly frequently visited Russia.

During a remodel of her house after Monroe died, a sophisticated, government-grade phone tapping system that extended throughout the house was found.

10. Monroe’s last wish was to have flowers delivered to her grave

Her last wish to her lover DiMaggio was to have him send roses to her grave every week after she died. He kept this promise for two decades.

DiMaggio never remarried after Monroe died. His final words were that he would finally get to see Monroe.

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