Marilyn Monroe (1926–1962) was an American model and actress. One of the most popular sex symbols of the
1950s, she played stereotypically "
dumb blonde" characters that were emblematic of the era's attitudes towards sexuality. After beginning her career as a
pin-up model, she had two short-lived film contracts before being signed by
20th Century-Fox in 1951. The next year, scandalous nude photographs of her were featured in a popular calendar. She became one of the most bankable
Hollywood stars with starring roles in comedies such as
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953),
How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), and
The Seven Year Itch (1955). Disappointed in being
typecast and underpaid, Monroe formed her own production company in 1955 and successfully fought for a better contract with Fox. She received critical acclaim for her performances in
Bus Stop (1956) and
Some Like It Hot (1959), winning a
Golden Globe for Best Actress for the latter. Her last completed film was the drama
The Misfits (1961). Troubled by mental health and addiction problems, Monroe died of a
barbiturate overdose in 1962. She continues to be considered a
popular culture icon. This
Associated Press photograph of Monroe was taken on September 9, 1954, during the filming of
The Seven Year Itch on the streets of New York. She is wearing
her white dress, worn in the "skirt scene" in which air from a subway grate blows up her skirt.
Photograph credit: Associated Press
