Hollywood Celebrates 100 Years of Marilyn Monroe: A Timeless Icon
Collected Photo
Hollywood is kicking off a series of special events this Monday to mark what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, honoring the enduring legacy of the silver screen legend in her hometown.
At the historic Chinese Theatre—where Monroe’s handprints are immortalized alongside those of her Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) co-star Jane Russell—fans plan to gather and sing "Happy Birthday," echoing the actress’s famously sultry serenade to President John F. Kennedy. One hundred roses and a cake will be placed at the site, a beloved symbol of Hollywood’s golden age and a major tourist destination.
Tributes Begin Early
Tributes to Tinseltown’s legendary daughter began on Sunday when the Academy Museum opened Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon, an exhibition celebrating her film career and her life, which was tragically cut short.
After rising to superstardom in the 1950s, the actress and model died of an overdose at her Brentwood home in August 1962. She was just 36 years old.
Special Screenings and Rare Artifacts
Throughout June, the Academy Museum will host special screenings of Monroe’s prolific filmography, including The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Niagara (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Some Like It Hot (1959), and The Misfits (1961)—her final completed film.
The exhibition, which runs until February 2027, features hundreds of original pieces, some rarely displayed. Among the highlights is Monroe’s famous pink dress worn during her iconic performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend" in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Auction of Personal Treasures
Later in the week, on June 4, Julien’s Auctions will put nearly 200 pieces of Monroe memorabilia up for bid as part of its special 100 Years of Marilyn sale.
Items include unpublished photographs, a script with handwritten notes from her final unfinished production Something’s Got to Give, and personal belongings such as handwritten recipes and her own Elizabeth Arden lipstick—offering fans an intimate glimpse into the woman behind the icon.
The Making of a Legend: Marilyn Monroe's Remarkable Rise
Born in Los Angeles on June 1, 1926, Marilyn Monroe's early life was anything but glamorous. She spent much of her childhood shuttling between orphanages and foster homes, and she married for the first time at just 16 years old.
Her first accidental brush with show business came in 1944 while working in a factory. A photographer arrived to capture images of women on production lines during World War II—and Monroe found herself in front of the camera.
Soon after, she launched into the world of modeling, divorced her first husband, and made a history-defining decision: she dyed her brown hair platinum blonde. The look would become her signature.
She landed her first contract with Fox, and by the age of 30, Monroe had established herself as a global superstar.
A Trailblazer Behind the Scenes
But behind the glittering screen image, Monroe was forging her own path. She founded her own production company, attended the prestigious Actors Studio in New York, and boldly defied the major studios.
In the 1950s, while under contract with 20th Century Fox, she refused to star in an adaptation of the musical The Girl in Pink Tights. Her reasons were clear: she found the script mediocre and her salary—three times less than what her co-star Frank Sinatra was offered—deeply unfair.
Speaking Out Long Before #MeToo
Decades before the #MeToo movement shook the global entertainment industry, Monroe was already speaking out against Hollywood's dark side. She publicly denounced the "wolves" of Hollywood who preyed on female talent, making her not just an icon of beauty and comedy, but a courageous voice for women in an industry that often silenced them.
(Source: france24.com)
