But Monroe wouldn’t have it. Norma Jeane Mortenson later took her mother’s name, Baker. With the troubled life that she lived, Marilyn Monroe isn’t often thought of as a role model. She stood up for her rights as a woman. that's why she's so iconic. Many attribute her choice of movie roles to a lack of intelligence. This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Marilyn-Monroe, Canadian War Museum - Biography of Sir Sam Hughes, Marilyn Monroe - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Her drug addiction was coming in the way of her shooting. In 1956 she married playwright Arthur Miller and briefly retired from moviemaking, although she costarred with Sir Laurence Olivier in The Prince and the Showgirl (1957). Had she been alive today, she would have been 91 years old. Switch to the light mode that's kinder on your eyes at day time. by Many believe that Marilyn Monroe somehow fell into fame with nothing more to her credit than her good looks. Yet, she managed to build an enduring career. So why is Marilyn Monroe a hero? Why is Marilyn Monroe, a hero? She was also known to always make time for children. The owner agreed, and thus Ella Fitzgerald’s career boosted, with people such as Frank Sinatra watching her play live. Because she rose to fame in the face of adversity. Marilyn Monroe is frequently criticized for playing nothing but helpless blondes in her movies. Here are ten reasons Marilyn Monroe is a wonderful role model. Monroe’s mother suffered from schizophrenia, a mental disorder, which affected a young Norma deeply. 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. With the end of their marriage less than a year later she began to grow discontented with her career. She was then forcefully admitted into a psychiatric ward, where she stayed for a while, and even wrote accounts in her diary. The history of mental illness that she had in her family pursued her through her life. She had a fallout with Fox because she wasn’t getting roles that were more diverse and challenging. Monroe reportedly was affected by his death (even blamed by his widow) and went into a deeper state of depression. Having remained famous even many years after her death, many have asked questions about Marilyn Monroe’s ex-husbands. _g1 = document.getElementById('g1-logo-mobile-inverted-img'); This left Monroe devasted, setting off her notorious addiction with alcohol and drugs. A lively and informative new podcast for kids that the whole family will enjoy! In 1953, Monroe did some of her most famous movies- Niagara , Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and How to Marry A Millionaire . var _g1; Why is Marilyn Monroe, a hero? var _g1; Nuvita try { Legend says that when they were filming The Prince and The Showgirl (1957), Monroe came upon a diary entry written by Miller about her, which called her not as smart as Miller’s friends and embarrassing. All it got her was a great deal of scorn and ridicule. James Dougherty Marilyn Monroe was born as Norma Jeane Baker on June 1, 1926, into a low-income family. Her vulnerability and sensuousness combined with her needless death eventually raised her to the status of an American cultural icon. She slowly edged her way into the industry, befriending people and hosting parties, all the while going to acting school. April 24, 2020, 4:58 pm. Several conspiracies are surrounding her death even now, with speculations about whether it was suicide, accident or murder. June 30, 2020, 7:35 am, by } catch(e) {}, by She reacted by divorcing him. Get exclusive access to content from our 1768 First Edition with your subscription. Looking at her pictures, watching her movies, and reading about her tragic life invokes fury at those who didn’t respect this honest, sincere and talented woman for her work. Marilyn Monroe, original name Norma Jeane Mortenson, later called Norma Jeane Baker, Jeane sometimes spelled Jean, (born June 1, 1926, Los Angeles, California, U.S.—died August 5, 1962, Los Angeles), American actress who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s. The list appears on Biography Online. icytales A half-century after she’s passed away, she remains a symbol of beauty not only in the English-speaking world but everywhere else as well.