Talking of Marilyn Monroe, the few things that come to mind include; beauty, fashion forwardness, boldness, a sex symbol, a great sense of styling (that was ahead of its time). It was ahead of time because even today, after so many decades of her death, she is still considered one of the most stylish actresses till date. Her looks, her outfits, the style, everything seems fitted even today. But this not all about her. There is a lot about Marilyn that most of the people don’t know. Here we have rounded up 10 astonishing facts about her that most of you didn’t know till today.
1.The Bitterness of her Childhood
Marilyn Monroe
‘Norma Jeane Baker ‘is the real name of Marilyn Monroe. Before touching the heights of the glam world, she was an orphan girl, living n orphanage. She was adopted by 11 couples as foster parents.
2. A Woman of Intelligence
Marilyn Monroe
She was always type casted as a woman with no sense and intelligence. And that was something she used to hate. But her image in real life was just opposite to that. Her IQ level was 168. Here is what her friend Susan Strasberg had to say about it, “When she wasn’t an expert on a subject, but wanted to be, she got hold of someone and picked their brains. After she’d gone through enough information, she was pretty knowledgeable about whatever it was: painting, music…. politics, religion, literature. She collected experts-one on the stock market, one on poetry, one on the world situation.”
3. A Simple Girl
Marilyn Monroe
We all know about her world-famous song, ‘diamonds are a girl’s best friends’. But that was just for the song. In reality, she didn’t have much except a diamond ring, given her by her second husband and a strand of pearls. She was a simple girl who loved children (most of her charity was for kids). Not just this, she was an animal lover too.
4. Her Philanthropist Approach!
Marilyn Monroe
She was into a lot of charity and social services, especially for orphan children and patients. She even did a lot for the soldiers of Korea. Even after her death, 25% of her earnings from her state was donated to the clinic of children with metal sickness. The most famous incident of her was, where she helped Ella Fitzgerald in her efforts of getting to fame. Being a woman of black origin, Ella was not given chances to sing in famous night clubs. It was Monroe, who called and asked the owner of the famous club ‘Mocambo’, to give Ella a chance to prove her worth. This is how Ella expressed Monroe in her words,
“I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt…it was because of her that I played the Mocambo, a very popular nightclub in the ’50s. She personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted me booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night. She told him — and it was true, due to Marilyn’s superstar status — that the press would go wild. The owner said yes, and Marilyn was there, front table, every night. The press went overboard. After that, I never had to play a small jazz club again. She was an unusual woman — a little ahead of her times. And she didn’t know it.”
5. She Converted her Faith!
Marilyn Monroe
Though she married thrice, but at the time of marrying Arthur Miller, she converted to Judaism. That act of her is taken as a sign of her love for fame and success. As Hollywood was filled with a number of Jews, just like today.
6. Happy Birthday Mr. President!
Marilyn Monroe
It was a famous performance of her, given at the birthday celebration of the president of United States, J.F Kennedy. Monroe wore a body hugging outfit covered in about 2,500 rhinestones. The dress was so tightly fitted that the tailor had to sew Monroe in it. Later, this dress became the costliest dress ever to be sold. It was sold in 1999 at the huge price of $1,267,500.
7. Best Marilyn Monroe Quotes
Marilyn Monroe
Most of the famous Marilyn Monroe quotes available online have never been quoted by her. Someone else said them and attributed to her. That is quite shocking, even for me. I used to love her quotes especially where she (actually she didn’t) talked about ‘avoiding the drama,’ and ‘size zero’.
8. Heaviest Peach Fuzz Beard
Marilyn Monroe
Can you believe that the drop-dead gorgeous Monroe had the heaviest peach fuzz beard in Hollywood? But she never tried to remove it. In her view, this fuzz used to add a soft glow to her look when hit by light.
9. Her Iconic White Dress Scene in The Seven Year Itch
Marilyn Monroe
Who can forget her most iconic scene in a white dress blowing up (from the Seven Year Itch). This whole scene led her marital life in great trouble. At the time of this scene, she was married to Joe DiMaggio (her second husband). According to some reports, he was not happy the way this whole scene was filmed. To him, she was too revealing. Reports suggested, they had a fight over this matter and DiMaggio got physical with her. And that was the time when she filed for divorce, just after 8 months of their wedding. (later in 2011, this white dress of her was auctioned at the price of 5.6 million).
10. Her Long-Lasting Relation with Joe DiMaggio
Though their relation as husband and wife didn’t last longer. But they were on really good terms even after their divorce. Monroe requested Joe to come to her grave with flowers every week, if she died earlier. It was a promise that Joe kept for about 20 years. Besides, Joe was the one who organized her funeral. And didn’t allow people from Hollywood saying, “Tell them, if it wasn’t for them, she’d still be here,”
Marilyn Monroe
Conclusion: Buried at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles, Monroe is still the most sought-after leading lady of Hollywood. Even today when we talk about the most iconic and stylish beauties, no list is complete without Marilyn Monroe.
