The Tragedy

Who was the real Marilyn Monroe? Celebrating 100 years of an icon.

In her final interview, Marilyn Monroe observed: “When you're famous, you run into human nature in a raw kind of way. People think: Who is she? Who does she think she is, Marilyn Monroe?”

Who was Marilyn Monroe? It depends who you ask. Some dismissed her as a dumb blonde, others say she was a savvy self-promoter, an influencer before influencers existed. Some labelled her a diva who was late to set and ruined takes, others argue she was an artist fighting back against the studio machine. Many say she was a victim, a martyr, a tragedy – others say she was a survivor.

Celebrating 100 years of Marilyn Monroe, Ellen E Jones overturns the myths of Monroe – many of which she created herself. Speaking with those who knew Marilyn best, Ellen explores five ‘faces’ of the blonde bombshell.

In this episode, we meet Marilyn Monroe: 'The Tragedy'. Since her death, Monroe's life story has been repackaged as one of victimhood - but those who knew her best say this couldn't be further from the truth. Ellen speaks with close friends of Marilyn, including Amy Greene, Mamie van Doren and the Shaw family; photographer Lawrence Schiller, who was one of the last people to see Marilyn alive; biographers Sarah Churchwell and Andrew Wilson; Marilyn impersonator Erika Smith; and BFI programmer Kimberley Sheehan.

Presented by Ellen E Jones
Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio