Marilyn Monroe (/ˈmærɪlɪn mənˈroʊ/; born Norma Jeane Mortenson;
June 1, 1926 â€" August 4, 1962) was an American actress, model, and
singer. Famous for playing comedic "blonde bombshell" characters, she
became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early
1960s and was emblematic of the era's changing attitudes towards
sexuality. She was a top-billed actress for only a decade, but her
films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2019) by the
time of her death in 1962. Long after her death, she has continued to
be a major icon of pop culture.Born and raised in Los Angeles, Monroe
spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage and
married at age 16. She was working in a factory as part of the war
effort during World War II when she met a photographer from the First
Motion Picture Unit and began a successful pin-up modeling career,
which led to short-lived film contracts with 20th Century Fox and
Columbia Pictures. After a series of minor film roles, she signed a
new contract with Fox in late 1950. Over the next two years, she
became a popular actress with roles in several comedies, including As
Young as You Feel and Monkey Business, and in the dramas Clash by
Night and Don't Bother to Knock. She faced a scandal when it was
revealed that she had posed for nude photos before she became a star,
but the story did not damage her career and instead resulted in
increased interest in her films.
June 1, 1926 â€" August 4, 1962) was an American actress, model, and
singer. Famous for playing comedic "blonde bombshell" characters, she
became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early
1960s and was emblematic of the era's changing attitudes towards
sexuality. She was a top-billed actress for only a decade, but her
films grossed $200 million (equivalent to $2 billion in 2019) by the
time of her death in 1962. Long after her death, she has continued to
be a major icon of pop culture.Born and raised in Los Angeles, Monroe
spent most of her childhood in foster homes and an orphanage and
married at age 16. She was working in a factory as part of the war
effort during World War II when she met a photographer from the First
Motion Picture Unit and began a successful pin-up modeling career,
which led to short-lived film contracts with 20th Century Fox and
Columbia Pictures. After a series of minor film roles, she signed a
new contract with Fox in late 1950. Over the next two years, she
became a popular actress with roles in several comedies, including As
Young as You Feel and Monkey Business, and in the dramas Clash by
Night and Don't Bother to Knock. She faced a scandal when it was
revealed that she had posed for nude photos before she became a star,
but the story did not damage her career and instead resulted in
increased interest in her films.
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