THE ART OF BEING MARILYN

The woman, the myth,
and the image she carefully controlled

The pink dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), designed by William Travilla

Superstar Marilyn Monroe was born one hundred years ago this summer. In honor of the centennial of her birth, the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures presents Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon, now on display through Feb. 28, 2027.

Costumes worn by Marilyn Monroe

Touring replica of Marilyn Monroe’s costume from The Seven Year Itch (1955), designed by William Travilla

Covering Monroe’s entire life through hundreds of items from institutions and private collectors, the exhibition has assembled the largest collection of her screen-worn costumes. Think of her movies and what she wore; there’s a good chance the costume you’re picturing is here – The Seven Year Itch (1955), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Some Like It Hot (1959) and more. In clothes alone, you can see her evolution from bit player in Love Happy (1949), which was the final film from the Marx Brothers, to stratospheric stardom, ending with Something’s Got to Give (1962).

Detail of Marilyn Monroe’s William Travilla-designed dress from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953)

Marilyn Monroe’s John Moore-designed dress worn in Let’s Make Love (1960)

She worked with the top photographers of her day. A whole wall is devoted to her many, many portraits. Special placement is given to her photos with Tom Kelley, and the Academy even got the actual camera that saw her nude for the “Golden Dreams” photos, for which she was paid $50 ($700 today). Once she established herself as a major force, however, she controlled her image; and included are photos that she rejected, seen for the first time in new prints.

Portraits of Marilyn Monroe 

Tom Kelley’s camera used for the “Golden Dreams” photos of Marilyn Monroe, which were distributed on pinup calendars (right)

We see glimpses of her private life. Clothes she wore for rehearsals, her makeup, furnishings from her Brentwood home. Such devoted collectors are her fans, that we even see some of her bras. (Is my life enriched for having seen Marilyn Monroe’s bras?) One of my favorite details was learning that she wore department-store heels and costume jewelry to public events. The image of the Marilyn we know, or rather, that she wanted us to know, is just that—an image.

Items from Marilyn Monroe’s Brentwood home

Eyelashes and makeup owned by Marilyn Monroe

In conjunction with the exhibition was a screening series featuring many of her most popular and important films. All were presented on video, except for two super-rare 35mm screenings of Ladies of the Chorus (1948), her first starring role, and The Prince and the Showgirl (1957), the only film from Marilyn Monroe Productions, Inc. The series just concluded, but the museum often schedules more screenings, given that their exhibitions run for the better part of a year.

Matchbook from Marilyn Monroe Productions, Inc.

Ultrawide montage of Monroe’s performances inside Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon

Photos and documents from Marilyn Monroe’s youth

What we don’t see much is the Monroe away from the spotlight. There are a few items from her youth, which she escaped as soon as she could. But little space is spent on her love life, personal and professional struggles, or the public frenzy that followed her. Her woes are so intertwined with her work, though, that they can’t help surfacing now and then. When they do, it comes as somewhat of a surprise. Hollywood Icon does not present the full Monroe, but instead, the Monroe that she, herself, curated – a confident, fabulous, shrewd woman that blazed through her incredible 17-year career.

Items related to Marilyn Monroe’s final public performance, at President John F. Kennedy’s 45th birthday gala, and front-page news of her death

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photos by Nick McCall for Stage and Cinema

Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon
Academy Museum of Motion Pictures, 6067 Wilshire Blvd. in Los Angeles
on view through Feb 28, 2027
open daily (except Tuesday) 10am–6pm
for tickets, visit Academy Museum

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