Marilyn Monroe (born in Norma Jeane Mortenson; June 1, 1926 to August 5, 1962) is an American actress and model. She is known for her role as the funny "stupid blonde," one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s, and for her attitude towards sex. Although she was the highest grossing actress in a decade, by the time she died unexpectedly in 1962, her movie box office had reached $200 million. She is still regarded as a major popular cultural icon.

Monroe was born and raised in Los Angeles, spent most of her childhood in foster homes and orphanages, and married when she was 16. In 1944, as part of the war effort, she was introduced to work in a radio airplane factory by a photographer from the first film academy and started a successful pin and button model business. This work resulted in short-term film contracts with twentieth-century fox (1946-1947) and Columbia Pictures (1948). After a series of minor film roles, she signed a new contract with Fox in 1951. Over the next two years, she became a popular actress and played roles in a number of comedy films, including "you when you were young" and "monkey business" and the TV series "conflict" night. Don't disturb. When Monroe revealed that she posed for nude photos before she became a star, she faced a scandal, but the story did not harm her career, but aroused people's interest in her films.

By 1953, Monroe was one of the most famous stars in the Hollywood market, playing the leading roles in three films: Black Niagara (focusing on her sex) and comedy "gentlemen prefer blondes" and "how to marry a millionaire", thus establishing her star image as a "stupid Blonde". Although she played an important role in creating and managing public image throughout her career, she was disappointed with the typesetting and low pay of the studio. In early 1954, she was temporarily suspended for refusing a film project, but she achieved the biggest box office success in her career, and the seven year itch (1955) returned to the stage.

When studios were still reluctant to change their contracts, Monroe founded a film production company in late 1954. She named it Marilyn Monroe Productions (MMP). She started her company in 1955 and began to study acting methods in Actors Studio. In late 1955, fox awarded her a new contract, which gave her more control and a higher salary. She won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actress (1959) after a highly acclaimed performance at the bus stop (1956) and her role in MMP's first independent film, Prince and dancing girl (1957). Her final film was the TV series "brokenhearted" (1961).

Monroe's troubled private life has attracted much attention. She struggles with substance abuse, depression and anxiety. She married retired baseball star Joe DiMaggio and playwright Arthur Miller, both of whom ended in divorce. On August 5, 1962, she died of an overdose of barbiturates at her home in Los Angeles, aged 36. Although Monroe's death was ruled as a possible suicide, there were many conspiracy theories in the decades after her death.