Marilyn: Still Immaculate

Six decades into her death, Marilyn Monroe's popularity has not waned to mention. June 1st marked the centenary of this star's birth. Agamir Somoy has got some lesser-discussed aspects of her life.

Bookworm Monroe

Marilyn Monroe loved reading books. At the time of her death in 1962, her personal library contained over 400 books. Her collection included works by Marcel Proust, Albert Camus, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Ernest Hemingway, James Joyce, Leo Tolstoy, and many other famous authors of world literature. She also read poetry by William Blake, Walt Whitman, and W.B. Yeats. Her collection also contained books on psychology, philosophy, politics, and history. In 1951, early in her career, she enrolled in the literature department at the University of California. In one interview, Monroe said that studying helps with human self-development. She also turned to books to overcome her insecurities and self-doubt. After her death, her books were preserved for a long time. Later, a large portion of them were sold at auction.

The Struggle to Learn Acting

In the middle of her career, Monroe enrolled in the famous Actors Studio in New York. At the acting school, Lee Strasberg was then teaching Method of acting. In Strasberg's method, actors were taught to use their own life experiences, emotions, and memories to make characters more realistic and believable. After this, a major change was seen in her acting. She began to perform characters that reflected reality. Among these are films such as Bus Stop, The Seven Year Itch, and Some Like It Hot.

Revolt Against Hollywood
Due to her contract, the production company Twentieth Century Fox controlled her in various ways. In late 1954, Marilyn Monroe decided to take a stand against the studio system. She became embroiled in a conflict with Twentieth Century Fox and established "Marilyn Monroe Productions." The studio was created with various benefits, including profit-sharing. This infuriated Fox, who sued her and temporarily blacklisted her. However, Monroe stood firm in her position. After lengthy negotiations, in 1956, Fox was forced to sign a new contract with her, which gave her the right to select stories, approve directors, and secure profit participation for four films, alongside her acting roles. Marilyn Monroe produced films such as Bus Stop and The Prince and the Showgirl. Although the production company did not progress far later due to personal complications, the courage Monroe showed as a female actress remains an example.
Support for the Civil Rights Movement

In the 1950s, racial discrimination was widespread in the United States. Black artists often did not get the opportunity to perform at many famous clubs and entertainment venues. At that time, Ella Fitzgerald was not getting any scope to sing at the popular "Mocambo Nightclub" in Los Angeles. The club management believed that a Black female artist would not attract an audience. At this point, Marilyn Monroe took the initiative herself. She contacted the club owner and informed him that if Fitzgerald were given the opportunity to perform there, she herself would attend the event. Additionally, she would bring photojournalists from the media to ensure the event received widespread publicity. Due to Monroe's immense popularity, the club management eventually agreed. The performances were a great success, and afterward, the doors to even larger venues across the United States opened for Ella Fitzgerald. Monroe also maintained open friendships with Black artists. At a time when the civil rights movement, led by Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr., was spreading the demand for equal rights, the support of a white superstar like Marilyn Monroe carried particular significance.