Marilyn Monroe: Journey From Hollywood Icon to Drug Addiction Tragedy

Marilyn Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, was a Hollywood icon of beauty and talent in the 1950s. With her iconic roles in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) and The Seven Year Itch (1955), she captured the hearts of millions. However, behind the glamour was a wounded woman who struggled with deep insecurities, mental health issues, and an increasing dependence on prescription drugs, which ultimately led to her tragic death at the age of 36.

A turbulent and traumatic childhood

Monroe’s early life was tumultuous. Her mother, Gladys Baker, suffered from severe mental illness and was institutionalized when Monroe was seven, forcing her to live in a series of orphanages and foster homes. According to multiple sources, she was a victim of sexual abuse as a child, an experience that contributed to her feelings of abandonment, low self-esteem, and persistent anxiety. At age 16, she married James Dougherty to escape the foster care system, but the marriage quickly ended as her modeling career began to take off.

The Rise of the Stars and the Tough Pressure

During the 1950s, Monroe quickly became a star for 20th Century Fox, changing her stage name and dyeing her hair platinum blonde to conform to the feminine beauty standards of the time. Films such as Niagara (1953) and How to Marry a Millionaire (1953) catapulted her to fame. However, fame came with unfair treatment: she was often stereotyped as a “dumb blonde,” and her image was exploited by studios without regard for her mental health or actual career development. Although she studied at the Actors Studio under Lee Strasberg to improve her acting skills, the pressures of work, public scrutiny, and failed marriages to Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller further depressed her.

The long road to addiction

By the early 1950s, Monroe had begun using barbiturates such as Nembutal and Seconal to combat insomnia and anxiety. The use of sleeping pills and tranquilizers was widespread in Hollywood at the time, with “uppers” such as amphetamines helping to increase energy and control weight, while “downers” helped with relaxation and sleep. Along with her unstable career and personal life—including miscarriages and gynecological problems—she became increasingly dependent on the drugs, combining prescription drugs with alcohol, which led to a serious deterioration in her health.

Psychiatrists such as Ralph Greenson used Freudian therapy and prescribed medication, which further complicated her recovery. Many biographies suggest that Monroe may have suffered from undiagnosed bipolar disorder, which caused severe mood swings, paranoia, and erratic behavior.

The collapse and tragic end

By the 1960s, Monroe’s career was in decline due to addiction and mental health issues. During the filming of The Misfits (1961), she was frequently late, forgot her lines, and needed constant medical attention, causing tension with her co-stars. She was hospitalized several times for mental illness and voluntarily checked into the Payne Whitney Psychiatric Clinic in 1961, but described it as a “nightmare.” By 1962, she was fired from Something’s Got to Give for her unprofessional behavior. Friends and co-stars noted her physical and mental exhaustion, along with her dependence on drugs to cope with insomnia and mental anguish.

On August 5, 1962, Monroe was found dead in her Brentwood home, next to an empty bottle of Nembutal. An autopsy concluded that the cause was acute barbiturate poisoning, a suspected suicide. Her body contained levels of pentobarbital and chloral hydrate that exceeded the safety threshold. However, there are still many conspiracy theories surrounding her death, involving powerful figures of the time.

The Complex Legacy of a Legend

Marilyn Monroe is a cultural icon of the 20th century, but her life story is also a cautionary tale about the intense pressures of the entertainment industry and the consequences of ignoring mental health. From a traumatized orphan to a top movie star, Monroe left an indelible mark but also a tragic tale of loneliness and inner struggle.