Hollywood Celebrates Marilyn Monroe’s Centenary

Hollywood marked Marilyn Monroe's centenary on Monday, 1 June, paying tribute to one of cinema's most recognisable stars.

More than six decades after her death, Los Angeles celebrated the iconic blonde actress with tribute events across the city.

"When you think of Hollywood, you think of Marilyn," tour guide Lacey Noel told AFP on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. "There’s some sort of beautiful, mysterious, and captivating aura that she has that will never go away."

At the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, fans gathered near her preserved handprints to sing "Happy Birthday," echoing her famous 1962 performance for US President John F. Kennedy. One hundred roses and a birthday cake were placed at the site to honour the Hollywood Golden Age star.

Museum Exhibitions and Auctions

The Academy Museum opened "Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon" on Sunday to celebrate her film career. The museum will screen her classic films, including Some Like It Hot (1959) and The Seven Year Itch (1955), throughout June. The exhibition, which runs until February 2027, features hundreds of original artifacts, including the famous pink dress worn during her "Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend" routine in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.

On 4 June, Julien’s Auctions will host a "100 Years of Marilyn" sale. The auction features nearly 200 items, including unpublished photographs, handwritten recipes, a script with her personal notes, and her Elizabeth Arden lipstick.

From Factory Worker to Global Star

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles on 1 June 1926, Monroe endured an unstable childhood in orphanages and foster homes. She married her first husband at 16.

She entered show business in 1944 after a photographer captured her working in a World War II munitions factory. Soon after, she dyed her hair platinum blonde, began modelling, and secured her first contract with 20th Century Fox. By the age of 30, she was a global superstar.

Monroe later founded her own production company and studied at the Actors Studio in New York. Known for advocating for herself in a studio-dominated era, she famously refused a role in the musical The Girl in Pink Tights over a poor script and unequal pay compared to her co-star, Frank Sinatra.

A Private Life in the Spotlight

Monroe’s fame extended far beyond cinema. Her private life dominated tabloid headlines, cementing her as a defining celebrity of the 20th century. Following her first marriage, she was married to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio and US playwright Arthur Miller.

She was also romantically linked to high-profile figures, including John F. Kennedy, Robert F. Kennedy, and Marlon Brando.

Monroe died of a drug overdose at her Los Angeles home in August 1962. She was 36.