Marilyn Monroe Was the Heart of David Lynch’s ‘Twin Peaks’ – Here’s Why

David Lynch’s surreal and often enigmatic work has captivated audiences for decades, with Twin Peaks standing as one of his most influential creations. Known for its dreamlike narrative and complex characters, the show has sparked countless interpretations over the years. Surprisingly, one of the major inspirations for Twin Peaks came from a Hollywood icon: Marilyn Monroe.

While Lynch’s films and Monroe’s career are often seen as worlds apart—his abstract, avant-garde style contrasting with her mainstream, glamorous image—Lynch himself has explained how the legendary actress shaped his TV masterpiece. In fact, Monroe’s influence on Lynch’s work runs so deep that the Twin Peaks character Laura Palmer was partly inspired by the star.

Initially, Lynch had been set to write a film about Monroe, which was to be titled Goddess. The movie, however, was never made. Mark Frost, Lynch’s collaborator and co-writer of Twin Peaks, recalls the early stages of the project in the book Room to Dream. “An agent at CAA brought us together to work on a feature called Goddess for United Artists. We both wanted to expand the story beyond strict realism and inject lyrical, almost fantastical moments,” Frost remembers. The film would have delved into pivotal moments of Monroe’s life, including her mysterious encounter with Bobby Kennedy. Despite Frost’s satisfaction with the script, the producers of the film rejected it, and the project was ultimately scrapped.

However, Monroe’s legacy didn’t leave Lynch’s mind, and elements of her life would eventually find their way into Twin Peaks. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Lynch candidly revealed the connection between Monroe and his creation of Laura Palmer, the tragic blonde whose death serves as the catalyst for the series. “You could say that Laura Palmer is Marilyn Monroe, and that Mulholland Drive is about Marilyn Monroe, too. Everything is about Marilyn Monroe,” Lynch explained. His statement underscores how deeply Monroe’s persona resonated with him, influencing more than just the characters of Twin Peaks.

The similarities between Monroe and Laura Palmer are hard to ignore. Both women were blonde, both met untimely deaths, and both inspired an intense, widespread mourning. Monroe’s death, which has long been shrouded in mystery and conspiracy theories, mirrors the investigation into Laura Palmer’s death, another key element of Twin Peaks. Both deaths sparked questions and intrigue, leaving lasting impressions on their communities—Monroe’s death on a global scale and Palmer’s within her small hometown.

Lynch further elaborated on Monroe’s appeal in a conversation with Vice, acknowledging that part of her enduring iconic status comes from the “woman-in-trouble” persona she often portrayed. “It’s hard to say exactly what it is about Marilyn Monroe, but the woman-in-trouble thing is part of it,” Lynch explained. “It’s not just the woman-in-trouble thing that pulls you in, though. It’s more that some women are really mysterious.” Monroe, who frequently embodied vulnerability in her roles, captivated audiences with a complex blend of strength and fragility that Lynch found deeply compelling.

In a way, Lynch’s Twin Peaks became his homage to the iconic actress, channeling the tragic allure of Monroe through the character of Laura Palmer. Through this lens, Twin Peaks explores the dark side of fame, the cost of beauty, and the pervasive mysteries that lie beneath the surface of small-town life. Marilyn Monroe’s influence on Lynch’s work is undeniable, and the connection between her life and his art continues to resonate in both Twin Peaks and his broader cinematic universe.