Marilyn Monroe (born Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 - August 5, 1962) was an American actress and model. Well-known for taking part in comedian "dumb blonde" characters, she grew to become one of the most popular sexiest symbols from the 1950s, emblematic of the era's attitudes towards sexuality. Even though she was a top-billed actress for less than ten years, her films grossed $200 million by the time of her unexpected death in 1962.[1] She carries on to be considered a major popular traditional icon.[2]

Born and raised in Los Angeles, Monroe spent the majority of her childhood in foster care homes and an orphanage and married for the first time at the age of sixteen. Whilst working inside a factory as part of the war work in 1944, she met a photographer and commenced an effective pin-up modelling profession. The photography led to short-lived movie contracts with Twentieth Century-Fox (1946-47) and Columbia Pictures (1948). After a sequence of minor film roles, she signed a new agreement with Fox in 1951. Over the next two years, she became a well-known actress with roles in a number of comedies, including As Young as you Feel and Monkey Business, and in the dramas, Clash by Night and don't Bother to Knock. Monroe faced a scandal when it was exposed that she had posed for nude photos before becoming a star, but instead of damaging her profession, the tale increased interest in her films.