Marilyn Monroe's Hollywood legacy: See photos of her career, on-screen adaptations
USA TODAY
Sept. 29, 2022, 1:34 p.m. ET
Marilyn Monroe remains a beacon in Hollywood. The actress and model, whose death at 36 punctuated a legendary career in the 1950s and '60s, became known for her roles in "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" and "How to Marry a Millionaire."
As Netflix re-examines Monroe's life and career in the fictionalized biopic "Blonde," we are revisiting her notable moments in the spotlight, as well as the actresses who have portrayed her on screen through the years. We start with the real Monroe posing for a ballerina sitting by photographer Milton Greene.
Milton GreeneAs Netflix re-examines Monroe's life and career in the fictionalized biopic "Blonde," we are revisiting her notable moments in the spotlight, as well as the actresses who have portrayed her on screen through the years. We start with the real Monroe posing for a ballerina sitting by photographer Milton Greene.
Kelli Garner took on the role of Monroe in the 2015 Lifetime series "The Secret Life of Marilyn." Here she is mimicking the iconic photo of Monroe standing over a subway grate while filming "The Seven Year Itch."
Ben Mark Holzberg, Lifetime
Ana de Armas recreated the same image in 2022 Netflix movie "Blonde."
Matt Kennedy/NETFLIX
She starred in countless movie titles. Here she is in the 1951 comedy film "Let's Make it Legal."
Twentieth Century Fox
Again in 1953, she starred in the comedy "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes," which featured her notable performance of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend."
Courtesy Of Twentieth Century Fox
Michelle Williams also took on the role of Monroe in the 2011 film "My Week with Marilyn." Of course the platinum blonde hair was a given to embody the actress.
Laurence Cendrowicz, The Weinstein Company
NBC's show "Smash" featured a Monroe moment when actress Katharine McPhee's character Karen Cartwright sings a song as the blonde bombshell.
Craig Blankenhorn, NBC
The real Marilyn Monroe did quite a bit of singing herself, here she is among several women musicians in the 1858 film "Some Like It Hot."
Courtesy Of United Artists
Another starlet who took on Monroe's essence was Misty Rowe, who played her in the 1970s film "Goodbye, Norma Jean."
Central Press, Getty Images
In addition to the stage and the screen, Monroe was also famous on paper. Playboy Magazine featured her on its inaugural cover in December 1953.
Playboy, Playboy
Five years later, Theresa Russel applied the actress's iconic mole in "Insignificance." The movie didn't identify her as Monroe, only The Actress.
Silver Screen Collection, Getty Images
In the 90s, Melody Anderson took on the role in the TV movie "Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair" to capture the romance between the two in the actress's final years. James F. Kelly starred as Bobby Kennedy.
©USA Networks/ Everett Collection
In Netflix's "Blonde," the film alludes to her marriage with DiMaggio by calling her love interest The Ex-Athlete.
2022 © Netflix, 2022 © Netflix
Monroe's third husband was writer Arthur Miller who wrote "The Crucible." In this photo the two are seen at the Comedy Theatre in London in 1956.
-, AFP
"Blonde" hints to Monroe's romance with Miller in the film by calling him The Playwright.
2022 © Netflix, 2022 © Netflix
Ana de Armas takes on Monroe in "Blonde." The fictionalized biopic is based on a novel by Joyce Carol Oates.
Courtesy Of No Distributor FoundFeatured Weekly Ad