, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s.
After spending much of her childhood in foster
homes, Monroe began a career as a model, which led to a film contract in 1946. Her early film appearances were minor, but her performances in The Asphalt Jungle
and All About Eve
(both 1950) drew attention to her—by now her hair was dyed blonde.
It's not true I had nothing on. I had the radio on.
Don't you know that a man being rich is like a girl being pretty? You wouldn't marry a girl just because she's pretty, but my goodness, doesn't it help?
I've been on a calendar, but never on time.
I'm a failure as a woman. My men expect so much of me, because of the image they've made of me — and that I've made of myself — as a sex symbol. They expect bells to ring and whistles to whistle, but my anatomy is the same as any other woman's and I can't live up to it.
Unfortunately, I am involved in a freedom ride protesting the loss of the minority rights belonging to the few remaining earthbound stars. All we demanded was our right to twinkle.
I think that when you are famous every weakness is exaggerated. ... Goethe said, "Talent is developed in privacy," you know? And it's really true. ... Creativity has got to start with humanity and when you're a human being, you feel, you suffer. You're gay, you're sick, you're nervous or whatever.
Say good-bye to Pat, say good-bye to Jack and say good-bye to yourself, because you're a nice guy.
An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine. A money machine.