Beginnings
 Norma Jean Mortenson was born June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles. Abandoned
by her father and born to a mother that was mentally unstable forced her
to spend her early years in foster care. She felt alone, on the outside
of everything and spent a lot of time day dreaming to keep it all together.
In her quest for love she married Jim
Dougherty at the tender age of sixteen on June 19th 1942.
 Marilyn
the Model
Norma Jean was discovered by a photographer who was sent to the factory
she worked at to take pictures of women contributing to the war effort.
He took no time in asking her if she'd model for him as he thought her
to be a photographer's dream! Her photos led to her appearance on thirty-three
covers of national magazines. She soon left her unhappy marriage in 1946
and began a new life.
Movie Career
It did not take long for the people at Twentieth
Century-Fox studios to notice this beautiful woman. She changed her
name to Marilyn Monroe and took on her first role in the movie "Scudda-Hoo!
Sudda -Hay!" In 1948 she sang her first song in the movie "Ladies
of the Chorus." She was eager to become a success and was open to
trying just about anything…including posing nude for a calendar just
a short year later. Marilyn Monroe posters soon dazzled the world.
  Her first
serious role came in 1950 in the movie "The Asphalt Jungle"
in which she received great reviews. After starring in other films she
won a leading part in "Don't Bother to Knock," two years later.
Marilyn found love with Joe
DiMaggio in 1952. On January 14th they married but before long her
popularity with the men soon created problems within the marriage.
The Movie "Niagara" and "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes"
put her on the map and established her stardom in the film industry. Her
career began to decline when Fox suspended her in 1954 because of negotiations
in her contract. Marilyn faced a difficult road ahead but continued to
be steadfast in making her dreams come true.
| "Fame
is fickle, and I know it. It has its compensations, but it also
has its drawbacks, and I've experienced them both." |
|
