Marilyn Monroe is more than a fashion and sex icon for people all over the world – she is a global obsession. Despite the fact that so many people spend their lives learning about this beautiful model and actress, there are still some facts that very few people know. Here, PPcorn presents 15 facts you probably didn’t know about Marilyn Monroe. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: Marilyn Monroe Wasn’t Paid Very Well
While co-star Jane Russell was paid handsomely for her role in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Monroe was paid about one-tenth of what Russell made. Today, Monroe’s estate rakes in approximately $500,000 each year.
Number Fourteen: She Wasn’t Very Good at Learning Lines
It took Monroe 60 tries before she could deliver the line “It’s me, Sugar” in Some Like it Hot. She struggled with learning even the simplest of lines.
Number Thirteen: Marilyn Monroe Was Playboy’s First Sweetheart
In 1953, Monroe became Playboy’s first Sweetheart of the Month. The award was later changed to Playmate of the Month.
Number Twelve: Hugh Hefner Plans to Be Buried Next to Her
Monroe is buried at the Westwood Memorial Park in Los Angeles, and the vaults surrounding hers are quite prized. Hugh Heffner bought the vault directly next to Monroe in 1992 for the price of 50,000 pounds.
Number Eleven: She Is a Woman of Many Names
Monroe’s birth certificate reads Norma Jeane Mortenson; however, when she was baptized, her name was Norma Jeane Baker. She later modeled under the names Jean Norman and Mona Monroe, and her first idea for a screen name was Jean Adair. She was also recorded signing into hotels under the names Zelda Zonk and she also signed into a psychiatric clinic under the name Faye Miller. She didn’t change her name to Marilyn Monroe until 1956.
Number Ten: She Had 11 Sets of Foster Parents
After Monroe’s mother, Gladys, was institutionalized, she went through 11 whole sets of foster parents. She also spent close to a year in Los Angeles’ Children’s Aid Society Orphanage.
Number Nine: Her Favorite Artist Was Goya
According to Monroe, Goya was her favorite artist. Of his art, she said, “I know this man very well, we have the same dreams. I have had the same dreams since I was a child.”
Number Eight: She Was a Christian Scientist
When she was 18, Monroe became a Christian Scientists. However, later in life she also investigated Anthroposophy, which was a new age philosophy supported by Rudolf Steiner. Before her marriage to Arthur Miller in 1956, she converted to Judaism.
Number Seven: Her Weight Fluctuated Often
Monroe’s weight would change so rapidly and so dramatically that the costume designer for The Prince and the Showgirl had to create dresses in two different sizes. The designer, Beatrice Dawson, is reported as saying, “I have two ulcers from this film, and they’re both monogrammed MM.”
Number Six: She Went Through Several Acting Coaches
Monroe had an acting coach near her at almost all time. Her first coach was named Natasha Lytess and worked with her over the course of six years and had a very intense coaching style. Her second coach, Paula Strasberg, had a more hands-off approach to coaching Monroe.
Number Five: Her Estate Was Purchased in 2011
In January of 2011, Authentic Brand Groups officially purchased the licensing rights associated with Monroe’s estate. They purchased the rights at the very steep price of $30 million.
Number Four: Mariah Carey Has Her Piano
In a 1999 auction, Monroe’s white baby grand piano sold for $662,500 to Mariah Carey, Interestingly, the piano was priced at a mere $10,000 to $15,000.
Number Three: She Wore a Wig to Her Funeral
Because part of Monroe’s head had to be shaved for her autopsy, she wore a platinum wig to her open casket funeral. She also wore a Pucci sheath dress made of nylon jersey in the color green.
Number Two: She Wanted to Remarry Joe DiMaggio
It is believed that Monroe was interested in remarrying ex-husband Joe DiMaggio at the time of her death. DiMaggio had been working on building their relationship; he was undergoing therapy, quit drinking, and he often read poetry together with Monroe.
Number One: One of Her Gowns Sold for 820,000 Pounds
The gown that Monroe wore when she sang “Happy Birthday” to President Kennedy sold for an impressive 820,000 pounds in 1999. However, this is not the most expensive item of clothing Monroe has ever sold. Her Seven Year Itch dress sold for 2.8 million pounds in 2011.