These Marilyn Monroe photos provide a unique look at the person behind the icon, whether she’s goofing around or relaxing at home.
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25 Photos Of Norma Jeane Mortenson Before She Became Marilyn Monroe
33 Vintage U.S.O. Tour Photos – From Marilyn Monroe To Frank Sinatra
Before Marilyn Monroe And Joe DiMaggio, There Was Norma Jeane And James Dougherty
1 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs in the front seat of a car during filming ofThe Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images 2 of 45Marilyn Monroe takes a break from filming. Date unspecified.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images 3 of 45Marilyn Monroe lies down on the floor in front of a fireplace. 1955.Gene Lester/Getty Images 4 of 45Marilyn Monroe fixes her hair in front of a mirror. 1951.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 5 of 45Marilyn Monroe and ex-husband Joe DiMaggio attend the opening day game at Yankee Stadium. 1961.Lee Lockwood/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 6 of 45Marilyn Monroe does a cartwheel in the Beverly Hills backyard of Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde. 1950.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 7 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as she leans back on a couch. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 8 of 45Marilyn Monroe applies her makeup. Date unspecified.Flickr 9 of 45Marilyn Monroe plays softball on the beach. Circa 1950s.Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images 10 of 45Marilyn Monroe breaks down into tears after facing a press corps in front of the honeymoon cottage she was sharing with husband Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 11 of 45Marilyn Monroe cuddles up to a small dog during filming of The Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Getty Images 12 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes in a restaurant in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 13 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles on the set of Some Like It Hot. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images 14 of 45Marilyn Monroe reads the book To the Actor: On the Technique of Acting by Michael Chekhov in a quiet moment at the Ambassador Hotel in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images 15 of 45Marilyn Monroe wells up with tears of frustration in a Madison Square Garden dressing room before a charity event because her costume doesn’t fit right. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 16 of 45Marilyn Monroe lays down in the back seat of a car after a long day on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960. John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 17 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes during a quiet moment in a New York restaurant. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images 18 of 45The cast and crew of The Misfits line up for a publicity shoot. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images 19 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs inside a limousine while celebrating her 30th birthday in 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images 20 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles as she signs an autograph for a young man. 1952.Bettmann/Getty Images 21 of 45Marilyn Monroe tries on different swimsuits with the help of the wardrobe mistress. 1953.Bettmann/Getty Images 22 of 45Marilyn Monroe spontaneously hugs fiancé Arthur Miller during a sidewalk interview. 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images 23 of 45Marilyn Monroe meets with news commentator Edward R. Murrow at the Ambassador Hotel in New York in preparation for her guest appearance on his show. 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images 24 of 45Marilyn Monroe gets her makeup done. 1953.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images 25 of 45Marilyn Monroe cries after her divorce with Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images 26 of 45Marilyn Monroe wears a bored expression as her playwright husband Arthur Miller shoos photographers away at the Boston Arts Center Theater. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images 27 of 45Marilyn Monroe stands on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.Flickr 28 of 45Marilyn Monroe, wearing a negligee, listens to advice from director Billy Wilder during the filming of Some Like It Hot. 1958.Bettmann/Getty Images 29 of 45Marilyn Monroe out for a bicycle ride. 1956.Harold Clements/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 30 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as ex-husband Joe DiMaggio sticks out his tongue for photographers. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images 31 of 45Director George Cukor watches actress Marilyn Monroe rehearse moves with dance director Jack Cole on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 32 of 45Marilyn Monroe dabs at tears at a divorce hearing, testifying that husband Joe DiMaggio treated her with “coldness and indifference.” 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 33 of 45Marilyn Monroe with husband Arthur Miller on the set of The Misfits. 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images 34 of 45Marilyn Monroe picks up a paper at a newsstand in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 35 of 45Marilyn Monroe and actor Lon McAllister ride a train from New York City to Warrensburg, New York. 1949.Archive Photos/Getty Images 36 of 45Marilyn Monroe causes a scene with her low-cut dress at husband Arthur Miller’s premier of A View from the Bridge. 1957.Bettmann/Getty Images 37 of 45Marilyn Monroe, husband Arthur Miller, and his dog relax at Miller’s home. 1956.Seymour Wally/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images 38 of 45Marilyn Monroe is fitted for a costume in a dressing room as photographer Ed Feingersh is seen in the reflection. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 39 of 45Marilyn Monroe, visibly distressed, leaves a hospital while being hounded by the press. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 40 of 45Marilyn Monroe adjusts her makeup using a handheld mirror on the set of Bus Stop. 1956.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 41 of 45A candid shot of Marilyn Monroe waiting for the cameras to start rolling on the set of Let’s Make Love. Yves Montand watches from off set. 1960.George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images 42 of 45Marilyn Monroe flirts with co-star Yves Montand at a cocktail party in January, 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images 43 of 45A tired-looking Marilyn Monroe avoids the press in a checkered coat and scarf. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images 44 of 45Monroe stands outside the Elizabeth Arden salon in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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44 Candid Marilyn Monroe Photos As The Girl Next Door View Gallery
Marilyn Monroe photos showcase a sex symbol, a goddess, an icon. She was beautiful, there’s no doubt about that. After all, it was her looks that got her out of her anonymous life before fame in the first place.
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
25 Photos Of Norma Jeane Mortenson Before She Became Marilyn Monroe
33 Vintage U.S.O. Tour Photos – From Marilyn Monroe To Frank Sinatra
Before Marilyn Monroe And Joe DiMaggio, There Was Norma Jeane And James Dougherty
1 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs in the front seat of a car during filming ofThe Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images 2 of 45Marilyn Monroe takes a break from filming. Date unspecified.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images 3 of 45Marilyn Monroe lies down on the floor in front of a fireplace. 1955.Gene Lester/Getty Images 4 of 45Marilyn Monroe fixes her hair in front of a mirror. 1951.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 5 of 45Marilyn Monroe and ex-husband Joe DiMaggio attend the opening day game at Yankee Stadium. 1961.Lee Lockwood/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 6 of 45Marilyn Monroe does a cartwheel in the Beverly Hills backyard of Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde. 1950.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 7 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as she leans back on a couch. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 8 of 45Marilyn Monroe applies her makeup. Date unspecified.Flickr 9 of 45Marilyn Monroe plays softball on the beach. Circa 1950s.Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images 10 of 45Marilyn Monroe breaks down into tears after facing a press corps in front of the honeymoon cottage she was sharing with husband Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 11 of 45Marilyn Monroe cuddles up to a small dog during filming of The Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Getty Images 12 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes in a restaurant in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 13 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles on the set of Some Like It Hot. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images 14 of 45Marilyn Monroe reads the book To the Actor: On the Technique of Acting by Michael Chekhov in a quiet moment at the Ambassador Hotel in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images 15 of 45Marilyn Monroe wells up with tears of frustration in a Madison Square Garden dressing room before a charity event because her costume doesn’t fit right. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 16 of 45Marilyn Monroe lays down in the back seat of a car after a long day on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960. John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 17 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes during a quiet moment in a New York restaurant. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images 18 of 45The cast and crew of The Misfits line up for a publicity shoot. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images 19 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs inside a limousine while celebrating her 30th birthday in 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images 20 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles as she signs an autograph for a young man. 1952.Bettmann/Getty Images 21 of 45Marilyn Monroe tries on different swimsuits with the help of the wardrobe mistress. 1953.Bettmann/Getty Images 22 of 45Marilyn Monroe spontaneously hugs fiancé Arthur Miller during a sidewalk interview. 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images 23 of 45Marilyn Monroe meets with news commentator Edward R. Murrow at the Ambassador Hotel in New York in preparation for her guest appearance on his show. 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images 24 of 45Marilyn Monroe gets her makeup done. 1953.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images 25 of 45Marilyn Monroe cries after her divorce with Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images 26 of 45Marilyn Monroe wears a bored expression as her playwright husband Arthur Miller shoos photographers away at the Boston Arts Center Theater. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images 27 of 45Marilyn Monroe stands on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.Flickr 28 of 45Marilyn Monroe, wearing a negligee, listens to advice from director Billy Wilder during the filming of Some Like It Hot. 1958.Bettmann/Getty Images 29 of 45Marilyn Monroe out for a bicycle ride. 1956.Harold Clements/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 30 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as ex-husband Joe DiMaggio sticks out his tongue for photographers. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images 31 of 45Director George Cukor watches actress Marilyn Monroe rehearse moves with dance director Jack Cole on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 32 of 45Marilyn Monroe dabs at tears at a divorce hearing, testifying that husband Joe DiMaggio treated her with “coldness and indifference.” 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 33 of 45Marilyn Monroe with husband Arthur Miller on the set of The Misfits. 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images 34 of 45Marilyn Monroe picks up a paper at a newsstand in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 35 of 45Marilyn Monroe and actor Lon McAllister ride a train from New York City to Warrensburg, New York. 1949.Archive Photos/Getty Images 36 of 45Marilyn Monroe causes a scene with her low-cut dress at husband Arthur Miller’s premier of A View from the Bridge. 1957.Bettmann/Getty Images 37 of 45Marilyn Monroe, husband Arthur Miller, and his dog relax at Miller’s home. 1956.Seymour Wally/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images 38 of 45Marilyn Monroe is fitted for a costume in a dressing room as photographer Ed Feingersh is seen in the reflection. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 39 of 45Marilyn Monroe, visibly distressed, leaves a hospital while being hounded by the press. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 40 of 45Marilyn Monroe adjusts her makeup using a handheld mirror on the set of Bus Stop. 1956.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 41 of 45A candid shot of Marilyn Monroe waiting for the cameras to start rolling on the set of Let’s Make Love. Yves Montand watches from off set. 1960.George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images 42 of 45Marilyn Monroe flirts with co-star Yves Montand at a cocktail party in January, 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images 43 of 45A tired-looking Marilyn Monroe avoids the press in a checkered coat and scarf. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images 44 of 45Monroe stands outside the Elizabeth Arden salon in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
25 Photos Of Norma Jeane Mortenson Before She Became Marilyn Monroe
33 Vintage U.S.O. Tour Photos – From Marilyn Monroe To Frank Sinatra
Before Marilyn Monroe And Joe DiMaggio, There Was Norma Jeane And James Dougherty
1 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs in the front seat of a car during filming ofThe Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images 2 of 45Marilyn Monroe takes a break from filming. Date unspecified.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images 3 of 45Marilyn Monroe lies down on the floor in front of a fireplace. 1955.Gene Lester/Getty Images 4 of 45Marilyn Monroe fixes her hair in front of a mirror. 1951.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 5 of 45Marilyn Monroe and ex-husband Joe DiMaggio attend the opening day game at Yankee Stadium. 1961.Lee Lockwood/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 6 of 45Marilyn Monroe does a cartwheel in the Beverly Hills backyard of Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde. 1950.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 7 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as she leans back on a couch. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 8 of 45Marilyn Monroe applies her makeup. Date unspecified.Flickr 9 of 45Marilyn Monroe plays softball on the beach. Circa 1950s.Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images 10 of 45Marilyn Monroe breaks down into tears after facing a press corps in front of the honeymoon cottage she was sharing with husband Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 11 of 45Marilyn Monroe cuddles up to a small dog during filming of The Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Getty Images 12 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes in a restaurant in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 13 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles on the set of Some Like It Hot. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images 14 of 45Marilyn Monroe reads the book To the Actor: On the Technique of Acting by Michael Chekhov in a quiet moment at the Ambassador Hotel in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images 15 of 45Marilyn Monroe wells up with tears of frustration in a Madison Square Garden dressing room before a charity event because her costume doesn’t fit right. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 16 of 45Marilyn Monroe lays down in the back seat of a car after a long day on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960. John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 17 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes during a quiet moment in a New York restaurant. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images 18 of 45The cast and crew of The Misfits line up for a publicity shoot. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images 19 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs inside a limousine while celebrating her 30th birthday in 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images 20 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles as she signs an autograph for a young man. 1952.Bettmann/Getty Images 21 of 45Marilyn Monroe tries on different swimsuits with the help of the wardrobe mistress. 1953.Bettmann/Getty Images 22 of 45Marilyn Monroe spontaneously hugs fiancé Arthur Miller during a sidewalk interview. 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images 23 of 45Marilyn Monroe meets with news commentator Edward R. Murrow at the Ambassador Hotel in New York in preparation for her guest appearance on his show. 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images 24 of 45Marilyn Monroe gets her makeup done. 1953.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images 25 of 45Marilyn Monroe cries after her divorce with Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images 26 of 45Marilyn Monroe wears a bored expression as her playwright husband Arthur Miller shoos photographers away at the Boston Arts Center Theater. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images 27 of 45Marilyn Monroe stands on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.Flickr 28 of 45Marilyn Monroe, wearing a negligee, listens to advice from director Billy Wilder during the filming of Some Like It Hot. 1958.Bettmann/Getty Images 29 of 45Marilyn Monroe out for a bicycle ride. 1956.Harold Clements/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 30 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as ex-husband Joe DiMaggio sticks out his tongue for photographers. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images 31 of 45Director George Cukor watches actress Marilyn Monroe rehearse moves with dance director Jack Cole on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 32 of 45Marilyn Monroe dabs at tears at a divorce hearing, testifying that husband Joe DiMaggio treated her with “coldness and indifference.” 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 33 of 45Marilyn Monroe with husband Arthur Miller on the set of The Misfits. 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images 34 of 45Marilyn Monroe picks up a paper at a newsstand in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 35 of 45Marilyn Monroe and actor Lon McAllister ride a train from New York City to Warrensburg, New York. 1949.Archive Photos/Getty Images 36 of 45Marilyn Monroe causes a scene with her low-cut dress at husband Arthur Miller’s premier of A View from the Bridge. 1957.Bettmann/Getty Images 37 of 45Marilyn Monroe, husband Arthur Miller, and his dog relax at Miller’s home. 1956.Seymour Wally/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images 38 of 45Marilyn Monroe is fitted for a costume in a dressing room as photographer Ed Feingersh is seen in the reflection. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 39 of 45Marilyn Monroe, visibly distressed, leaves a hospital while being hounded by the press. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 40 of 45Marilyn Monroe adjusts her makeup using a handheld mirror on the set of Bus Stop. 1956.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 41 of 45A candid shot of Marilyn Monroe waiting for the cameras to start rolling on the set of Let’s Make Love. Yves Montand watches from off set. 1960.George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images 42 of 45Marilyn Monroe flirts with co-star Yves Montand at a cocktail party in January, 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images 43 of 45A tired-looking Marilyn Monroe avoids the press in a checkered coat and scarf. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images 44 of 45Monroe stands outside the Elizabeth Arden salon in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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And if you liked this post, be sure to check out these popular posts:
25 Photos Of Norma Jeane Mortenson Before She Became Marilyn Monroe
33 Vintage U.S.O. Tour Photos – From Marilyn Monroe To Frank Sinatra
Before Marilyn Monroe And Joe DiMaggio, There Was Norma Jeane And James Dougherty
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1 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs in the front seat of a car during filming ofThe Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images 2 of 45Marilyn Monroe takes a break from filming. Date unspecified.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images 3 of 45Marilyn Monroe lies down on the floor in front of a fireplace. 1955.Gene Lester/Getty Images 4 of 45Marilyn Monroe fixes her hair in front of a mirror. 1951.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 5 of 45Marilyn Monroe and ex-husband Joe DiMaggio attend the opening day game at Yankee Stadium. 1961.Lee Lockwood/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 6 of 45Marilyn Monroe does a cartwheel in the Beverly Hills backyard of Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde. 1950.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 7 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as she leans back on a couch. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 8 of 45Marilyn Monroe applies her makeup. Date unspecified.Flickr 9 of 45Marilyn Monroe plays softball on the beach. Circa 1950s.Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images 10 of 45Marilyn Monroe breaks down into tears after facing a press corps in front of the honeymoon cottage she was sharing with husband Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 11 of 45Marilyn Monroe cuddles up to a small dog during filming of The Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Getty Images 12 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes in a restaurant in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 13 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles on the set of Some Like It Hot. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images 14 of 45Marilyn Monroe reads the book To the Actor: On the Technique of Acting by Michael Chekhov in a quiet moment at the Ambassador Hotel in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images 15 of 45Marilyn Monroe wells up with tears of frustration in a Madison Square Garden dressing room before a charity event because her costume doesn’t fit right. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 16 of 45Marilyn Monroe lays down in the back seat of a car after a long day on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960. John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 17 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes during a quiet moment in a New York restaurant. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images 18 of 45The cast and crew of The Misfits line up for a publicity shoot. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images 19 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs inside a limousine while celebrating her 30th birthday in 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images 20 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles as she signs an autograph for a young man. 1952.Bettmann/Getty Images 21 of 45Marilyn Monroe tries on different swimsuits with the help of the wardrobe mistress. 1953.Bettmann/Getty Images 22 of 45Marilyn Monroe spontaneously hugs fiancé Arthur Miller during a sidewalk interview. 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images 23 of 45Marilyn Monroe meets with news commentator Edward R. Murrow at the Ambassador Hotel in New York in preparation for her guest appearance on his show. 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images 24 of 45Marilyn Monroe gets her makeup done. 1953.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images 25 of 45Marilyn Monroe cries after her divorce with Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images 26 of 45Marilyn Monroe wears a bored expression as her playwright husband Arthur Miller shoos photographers away at the Boston Arts Center Theater. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images 27 of 45Marilyn Monroe stands on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.Flickr 28 of 45Marilyn Monroe, wearing a negligee, listens to advice from director Billy Wilder during the filming of Some Like It Hot. 1958.Bettmann/Getty Images 29 of 45Marilyn Monroe out for a bicycle ride. 1956.Harold Clements/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images 30 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as ex-husband Joe DiMaggio sticks out his tongue for photographers. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images 31 of 45Director George Cukor watches actress Marilyn Monroe rehearse moves with dance director Jack Cole on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images 32 of 45Marilyn Monroe dabs at tears at a divorce hearing, testifying that husband Joe DiMaggio treated her with “coldness and indifference.” 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 33 of 45Marilyn Monroe with husband Arthur Miller on the set of The Misfits. 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images 34 of 45Marilyn Monroe picks up a paper at a newsstand in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 35 of 45Marilyn Monroe and actor Lon McAllister ride a train from New York City to Warrensburg, New York. 1949.Archive Photos/Getty Images 36 of 45Marilyn Monroe causes a scene with her low-cut dress at husband Arthur Miller’s premier of A View from the Bridge. 1957.Bettmann/Getty Images 37 of 45Marilyn Monroe, husband Arthur Miller, and his dog relax at Miller’s home. 1956.Seymour Wally/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images 38 of 45Marilyn Monroe is fitted for a costume in a dressing room as photographer Ed Feingersh is seen in the reflection. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 39 of 45Marilyn Monroe, visibly distressed, leaves a hospital while being hounded by the press. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images 40 of 45Marilyn Monroe adjusts her makeup using a handheld mirror on the set of Bus Stop. 1956.Hulton Archive/Getty Images 41 of 45A candid shot of Marilyn Monroe waiting for the cameras to start rolling on the set of Let’s Make Love. Yves Montand watches from off set. 1960.George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images 42 of 45Marilyn Monroe flirts with co-star Yves Montand at a cocktail party in January, 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images 43 of 45A tired-looking Marilyn Monroe avoids the press in a checkered coat and scarf. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images 44 of 45Monroe stands outside the Elizabeth Arden salon in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images 45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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1 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs in the front seat of a car during filming ofThe Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images
2 of 45Marilyn Monroe takes a break from filming. Date unspecified.Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis/Getty Images
3 of 45Marilyn Monroe lies down on the floor in front of a fireplace. 1955.Gene Lester/Getty Images
4 of 45Marilyn Monroe fixes her hair in front of a mirror. 1951.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
5 of 45Marilyn Monroe and ex-husband Joe DiMaggio attend the opening day game at Yankee Stadium. 1961.Lee Lockwood/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
6 of 45Marilyn Monroe does a cartwheel in the Beverly Hills backyard of Hollywood agent Johnny Hyde. 1950.Earl Leaf/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
7 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as she leans back on a couch. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images
8 of 45Marilyn Monroe applies her makeup. Date unspecified.Flickr
9 of 45Marilyn Monroe plays softball on the beach. Circa 1950s.Mondadori Portfolio/Getty Images
10 of 45Marilyn Monroe breaks down into tears after facing a press corps in front of the honeymoon cottage she was sharing with husband Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images
11 of 45Marilyn Monroe cuddles up to a small dog during filming of The Misfits. 1960.Ernst Haas/Getty Images
12 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes in a restaurant in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
13 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles on the set of Some Like It Hot. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images
14 of 45Marilyn Monroe reads the book To the Actor: On the Technique of Acting by Michael Chekhov in a quiet moment at the Ambassador Hotel in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images
15 of 45Marilyn Monroe wells up with tears of frustration in a Madison Square Garden dressing room before a charity event because her costume doesn’t fit right. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
16 of 45Marilyn Monroe lays down in the back seat of a car after a long day on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960. John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
17 of 45Marilyn Monroe relaxes during a quiet moment in a New York restaurant. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Stringer/Getty Images
18 of 45The cast and crew of The Misfits line up for a publicity shoot. 1960.Ernst Haas/Ernst Haas/Getty Images
19 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs inside a limousine while celebrating her 30th birthday in 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images
20 of 45Marilyn Monroe smiles as she signs an autograph for a young man. 1952.Bettmann/Getty Images
21 of 45Marilyn Monroe tries on different swimsuits with the help of the wardrobe mistress. 1953.Bettmann/Getty Images
22 of 45Marilyn Monroe spontaneously hugs fiancé Arthur Miller during a sidewalk interview. 1956.Bettmann/Getty Images
23 of 45Marilyn Monroe meets with news commentator Edward R. Murrow at the Ambassador Hotel in New York in preparation for her guest appearance on his show. 1955.Bettmann/Getty Images
24 of 45Marilyn Monroe gets her makeup done. 1953.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images
25 of 45Marilyn Monroe cries after her divorce with Joe DiMaggio. 1954.Ullstein Bild/Getty Images
26 of 45Marilyn Monroe wears a bored expression as her playwright husband Arthur Miller shoos photographers away at the Boston Arts Center Theater. 1959.Bettmann/Getty Images
27 of 45Marilyn Monroe stands on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.Flickr
28 of 45Marilyn Monroe, wearing a negligee, listens to advice from director Billy Wilder during the filming of Some Like It Hot. 1958.Bettmann/Getty Images
29 of 45Marilyn Monroe out for a bicycle ride. 1956.Harold Clements/Daily Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
30 of 45Marilyn Monroe laughs as ex-husband Joe DiMaggio sticks out his tongue for photographers. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images
31 of 45Director George Cukor watches actress Marilyn Monroe rehearse moves with dance director Jack Cole on the set of Let’s Make Love. 1960.John Bryson/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images
32 of 45Marilyn Monroe dabs at tears at a divorce hearing, testifying that husband Joe DiMaggio treated her with “coldness and indifference.” 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images
33 of 45Marilyn Monroe with husband Arthur Miller on the set of The Misfits. 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images
34 of 45Marilyn Monroe picks up a paper at a newsstand in New York. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
35 of 45Marilyn Monroe and actor Lon McAllister ride a train from New York City to Warrensburg, New York. 1949.Archive Photos/Getty Images
36 of 45Marilyn Monroe causes a scene with her low-cut dress at husband Arthur Miller’s premier of A View from the Bridge. 1957.Bettmann/Getty Images
37 of 45Marilyn Monroe, husband Arthur Miller, and his dog relax at Miller’s home. 1956.Seymour Wally/NY Daily News Archive/Getty Images
38 of 45Marilyn Monroe is fitted for a costume in a dressing room as photographer Ed Feingersh is seen in the reflection. 1955.Ed Feingersh/Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
39 of 45Marilyn Monroe, visibly distressed, leaves a hospital while being hounded by the press. 1954.Bettmann/Getty Images
40 of 45Marilyn Monroe adjusts her makeup using a handheld mirror on the set of Bus Stop. 1956.Hulton Archive/Getty Images
41 of 45A candid shot of Marilyn Monroe waiting for the cameras to start rolling on the set of Let’s Make Love. Yves Montand watches from off set. 1960.George Rinhart/Corbis via Getty Images
42 of 45Marilyn Monroe flirts with co-star Yves Montand at a cocktail party in January, 1960.Bettmann/Getty Images
43 of 45A tired-looking Marilyn Monroe avoids the press in a checkered coat and scarf. 1961.Bettmann/Getty Images
44 of 45Monroe stands outside the Elizabeth Arden salon in New York. 1955.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
45 of 45Like this gallery?Share it:
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44 Candid Marilyn Monroe Photos As The Girl Next Door View Gallery
44 Candid Marilyn Monroe Photos As The Girl Next Door View Gallery
44 Candid Marilyn Monroe Photos As The Girl Next Door View Gallery
44 Candid Marilyn Monroe Photos As The Girl Next Door View Gallery
44 Candid Marilyn Monroe Photos As The Girl Next Door
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Monroe had spent her childhood years in foster homes and orphanages before getting married at the age of just 16. Shortly after, Monroe (then still known as Norma Jeane Mortenson) was working at an aviation factory when she was spotted by military photographer David Conover who was there to capture photos of female workers in order to boost wartime morale. Monroe’s looks dazzled Conover, and she soon embarked on a successful modeling career.
Monroe’s seductive photos landed her a number of minor film roles that eventually led to bigger roles in more popular films, and before Monroe knew it, she was a major movie star.
Unfortunately for Monroe, she was almost always typecast as the “dumb blonde.” Practically all of her notable films, including The Seven Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, and Bus Stop, showcase Monroe as little more than a sex object. Monroe was devastated; she deeply wanted to play serious roles in serious films. Alas, no one took the blonde bombshell seriously.
Since it was Monroe’s appearance that turned the previously beautiful albeit anonymous woman into a movie star, she was terrified of losing her good looks. To create the woman captured in iconic Marilyn Monroe photos, she supposedly washed her face up to five times a day to prevent breakouts, slathered her face in olive oil to keep it hydrated, and sewed marbles into her bra to create the appearance of hard nipples.
Likewise, much to the annoyance of directors, Monroe spent hours in her changing room, applying makeup and doing her hair. Every element of her appearance had to be perfect before she was ready to be captured on camera. Monroe was constructing a character, and she knew exactly how to act in front of the camera in order to seduce her audience.
As the photographer Ernest Cunningham once said:
Monroe’s charm is indeed evident both in her movies and her still photos. But Cunningham was wrong: Monroe was no less charming when her charisma was turned off, when she was caught off guard, when she wasn’t “on.”
See for yourself in the gallery of candid Marilyn Monroe photos above.
Listen above to the History Uncovered podcast, episode 46: The Tragic Death Of Marilyn Monroe, also available on Apple and Spotify.
After viewing these beautiful Marilyn Monroe photos, check out this gallery of Norma Jeane Mortenson before she became Marilyn Monroe. Then, have a look at some of the most memorable Marilyn Monroe quotes.
