Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson (later baptized as Norma Jeane Baker), was an iconic American actress, model, and singer who became a cultural icon of the 1950s and remains an enduring symbol of beauty, glamour, and Hollywood stardom. She was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, and tragically passed away on August 5, 1962, at the age of 36.
Monroe’s early life was marked by instability and challenges. She grew up in foster care and experienced a turbulent childhood, eventually marrying at a young age and pursuing a career in modeling and acting. She adopted the stage name “Marilyn Monroe” and began to attract attention with her beauty and charisma.
Marilyn Monroe’s breakthrough came with roles in films such as “Niagara” (1953) and “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” (1953), where she showcased her comedic talent and irresistible charm. Her portrayal of the “dumb blonde” persona was a deliberate and skillful performance that masked Monroe’s intelligence and complexity as an actress.
Monroe’s most iconic role came in “The Seven Year Itch” (1955), particularly the scene where her white dress billows up over a subway grate—a moment that has become one of the most famous images in cinematic history.
Despite her success, Monroe struggled with personal challenges, including mental health issues and a tumultuous personal life marked by multiple marriages and relationships. She became known for her struggles with substance abuse and dependency.
Throughout her career, Monroe maintained a close relationship with the public through her persona as a glamorous and sensual star. However, behind the facade, she grappled with insecurities and vulnerabilities that often went unrecognized.
Marilyn Monroe’s tragic death in 1962, officially ruled as a probable suicide by drug overdose, shocked the world and cemented her status as a legendary figure. In death, Monroe became a cultural icon whose image continues to be celebrated and emulated, representing an era of Hollywood glamour and allure.
Beyond her screen persona, Monroe’s impact on popular culture extends to fashion, art, and feminism. She remains a timeless symbol of beauty, vulnerability, and the complex relationship between celebrity and identity. Marilyn Monroe’s life and legacy continue to fascinate and inspire, embodying the allure and contradictions of fame in the 20th century.
What was Marilyn Monroe’s birth name?
A) Norma Jeane Mortenson
B) Margaret Mitchell
C) Marilyn Monroe
D) Elizabeth Taylor
Correct Answer: A) Norma Jeane Mortenson
In which year was Marilyn Monroe born?
A) 1926
B) 1932
C) 1935
D) 1940
Correct Answer: A) 1926
Which iconic film featured Marilyn Monroe singing “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”?
A) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
B) Some Like It Hot
C) The Seven Year Itch
D) Niagara
Correct Answer: A) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
What was Marilyn Monroe’s first major film role?
A) The Seven Year Itch
B) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
C) All About Eve
D) Asphalt Jungle
Correct Answer: D) Asphalt Jungle
Which president did Marilyn Monroe famously sing “Happy Birthday” to?
A) John F. Kennedy
B) Dwight D. Eisenhower
C) Franklin D. Roosevelt
D) Harry S. Truman
Correct Answer: A) John F. Kennedy
What was Marilyn Monroe’s character name in the film “Some Like It Hot”?
A) Sugar Kane
B) Lorelei Lee
C) Roslyn Taber
D) Kay Weston
Correct Answer: A) Sugar Kane
Marilyn Monroe was married to which famous baseball player?
A) Joe DiMaggio
B) Mickey Mantle
C) Babe Ruth
D) Ted Williams
Correct Answer: A) Joe DiMaggio
What was the title of Marilyn Monroe’s last completed film released in 1961?
A) The Misfits
B) Some Like It Hot
C) Bus Stop
D) Let’s Make Love
Correct Answer: A) The Misfits
Which studio did Marilyn Monroe sign her first major film contract with?
A) MGM
B) Paramount Pictures
C) Warner Bros.
D) 20th Century Fox
Correct Answer: D) 20th Century Fox
Who was Marilyn Monroe’s acting coach and mentor?
A) Lee Strasberg
B) Elia Kazan
C) Stella Adler
D) Charlie Chaplin
Correct Answer: A) Lee Strasberg
Which Marilyn Monroe film features the iconic scene of her standing over a subway grate?
A) Niagara
B) The Seven Year Itch
C) How to Marry a Millionaire
D) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Correct Answer: B) The Seven Year Itch
Marilyn Monroe starred alongside which actor in the film “Some Like It Hot”?
A) James Dean
B) Cary Grant
C) Tony Curtis
D) Clark Gable
Correct Answer: C) Tony Curtis
What was the cause of Marilyn Monroe’s death in 1962?
A) Drug overdose
B) Car accident
C) Heart attack
D) Cancer
Correct Answer: A) Drug overdose
Which film marked Marilyn Monroe’s breakout role as a leading actress?
A) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
B) The Seven Year Itch
C) Bus Stop
D) Some Like It Hot
Correct Answer: A) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
What was the title of Marilyn Monroe’s first starring role in a film noir?
A) The Asphalt Jungle
B) Niagara
C) Don’t Bother to Knock
D) The Misfits
Correct Answer: B) Niagara
Marilyn Monroe’s production company was named:
A) Monroe Productions
B) MM Productions
C) Marilyn Monroe Enterprises
D) Marilyn Monroe Productions
Correct Answer: D) Marilyn Monroe Productions
Which of Marilyn Monroe’s films won her a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy?
A) Some Like It Hot
B) Bus Stop
C) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
D) The Seven Year Itch
Correct Answer: A) Some Like It Hot
Marilyn Monroe was briefly married to which playwright and author?
A) Arthur Miller
B) Tennessee Williams
C) Eugene O’Neill
D) Neil Simon
Correct Answer: A) Arthur Miller
Marilyn Monroe’s character in “The Seven Year Itch” is known as:
A) Lorelei Lee
B) Sugar Kane
C) Kay Weston
D) The Girl
Correct Answer: D) The Girl
Marilyn Monroe starred alongside Clark Gable and Montgomery Clift in which film?
A) Niagara
B) The Misfits
C) Bus Stop
D) River of No Return
Correct Answer: B) The Misfits
Marilyn Monroe’s first husband was:
A) Joe DiMaggio
B) Mickey Rooney
C) Arthur Miller
D) James Dougherty
Correct Answer: D) James Dougherty
Marilyn Monroe’s iconic platinum blonde hairstyle was inspired by which Hollywood actress?
A) Jean Harlow
B) Audrey Hepburn
C) Rita Hayworth
D) Elizabeth Taylor
Correct Answer: A) Jean Harlow
Marilyn Monroe’s character in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” famously sang which song?
A) “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”
B) “I Wanna Be Loved by You”
C) “My Heart Belongs to Daddy”
D) “A Fine Romance”
Correct Answer: A) “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend”
Marilyn Monroe received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in which category?
A) Motion Pictures
B) Television
C) Music Recording
D) Live Performance
Correct Answer: A) Motion Pictures
Marilyn Monroe’s last completed film was directed by whom?
A) Billy Wilder
B) John Huston
C) Alfred Hitchcock
D) Elia Kazan
Correct Answer: B) John Huston
Marilyn Monroe famously appeared in a scene with a white dress blowing up over a subway grate in which film?
A) Niagara
B) The Seven Year Itch
C) Some Like It Hot
D) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Correct Answer: B) The Seven Year Itch
Marilyn Monroe’s character in “Bus Stop” is a:
A) Singer
B) Waitress
C) Teacher
D) Nurse
Correct Answer: B) Waitress
Marilyn Monroe starred alongside which actor in the film “How to Marry a Millionaire”?
A) Tony Curtis
B) Cary Grant
C) Humphrey Bogart
D) Lauren Bacall
Correct Answer: D) Lauren Bacall
Marilyn Monroe was discovered by which Hollywood photographer, leading to her modeling career?
A) Richard Avedon
B) Irving Penn
C) Cecil Beaton
D) George Hurrell
Correct Answer: D) George Hurrell
Marilyn Monroe’s iconic image was often associated with which fashion designer?
A) Coco Chanel
B) Christian Dior
C) Givenchy
D) Salvatore Ferragamo
Correct Answer: B) Christian Dior