13 Actresses Who Have Perfectly Portrayed Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe is one of the most beloved and iconic stars of the 21st century. From making her debut in "All About Eve" and "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" to publishing a somber, yet mystifying swan song in "The Misfits", Marilyn lives on in our hearts. 60 years after her death, the artist has been shown on more than 20 occasions, including in movies, television shows, and even music videos from the 80s to now.
That means that several actresses have portrayed our legendary figure over the years. Some were successful and rose to fame for playing Marilyn Monroe while some others disappointed the audience. Whether it's success or failure, let's honor these 13 beauties who bravely step into Marilyn Monroe's shoes. Because it's not easy to show your acting skills, as well as demonstrate Marilyn's renowned, seductive action language.
So, scroll down to see 13 actresses who have helped preserve Monroe’s legacy and story. Whose performance impressed you the most? Let us know in the comment below!
She is the first actress who plays Marilyn Monroe in the 1976 biopic "Goodbye, Norma Jean". It's about Monroe’s path to stardom. And Misty Rowe portrays the actress as Monroe changed from "Norma Jean," Monroe’s birth name that she went by during her teenage years, to Marilyn Monroe, the star that the world grew to know and love.
The "Material Girl" music video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards and became a cultural phenomenon in 1984. Madonna famously imitates Marilyn Monroe's pink dress scene from her "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friends" in the video.
We rarely see Marilyn Monroe interacting with characters outside of the true storyline in the films about her. In Nicholas Roig's "Insignificance", Marilyn Monroe (played by Theresa Russell), Senator Joseph McCarthy, Albert Einstein, Joe DiMaggio, and three other 1950s icons were all stuck in a New York City hotel room together. It is an interesting, intelligent, and funny plot. Theresa is known for Marilyn Monroe's familiar halter-neck white dress.
Susan Griffiths may be the actress with the most Marilyn Monore credits, having played the "Some Like It Hot" actress 12 times on film. She not only played Monroe in the 1991 TV movie "Marilyn and Me", but also in three separate TV shows: "Quantum Leap", "Dark Skies", and "Timecop".
The made-for-TV biopic "Norma Jean & Marilyn", which has received accolades from critics, explores the duality of the actress’s past as Norma Jean in the past and Marilyn Monroe in the present. Mira Sorvino plays Marilyn Monroe when she was at the peak of her career.
In "Norma Jean & Marilyn," Ashley Judd plays Norma Jean, Marilyn Monroe's younger self, opposite Sorvino. She and Sorvino both were Golden Globe nominees for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Motion Picture for the film.
The movie that will be released in 2022 isn't the first adaptation of Oates's Blonde to hit the big screen. Based on the same-named novel, the 2001 two-episode miniseries "Blonde" stars Poppy Montgomery as Marilyn.
Michelle Williams said that portraying Marilyn Monroe was one of the toughest acting roles she had ever taken on. And she was nominated for an Oscar for her remarkable performance. The story of "My Week with Monroe" centers on the perspective of the young production assistant Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), who is also a potential lover of Marilyn.
In this television movie, Catherine Hicks plays Monroe. The film is about Monroe’s path to stardom and her relationships with her three husbands—James Dougherty, Joe DiMaggio, and Arthur Miller—and her agent, Johnny Hyde.
Blake Lively emulated Monroe in a pink dress that the "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" actress wore in the 1953 film. Serena van der Woodson, played by Lively, fantasizes that she is Marilyn Monroe in this dream scene from the CW hit Gossip Girl while the male stars dance next to her.
In this 2011 political miniseries chronicling the Kennedy family, Charlotte Sullivan played Monroe during her affair with President John F. Kennedy.
The miniseries "The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe" stars Kelli Garner as Monroe and details her relationship with her mother Gladys Pearl Baker as well as other aspects of her family life (Susan Sarandon). Vanity Fair quoted Garner as saying that while she wasn't the biggest fan of the late actress, she felt that “every young actress has a little Marilyn in her.”
In "The Rat Pack", Barbra Niven played Monroe in a small supporting role that hinted at the actress's affair with Kennedy—as well as her relationship with Hollywood's high society.
That means that several actresses have portrayed our legendary figure over the years. Some were successful and rose to fame for playing Marilyn Monroe while some others disappointed the audience. Whether it's success or failure, let's honor these 13 beauties who bravely step into Marilyn Monroe's shoes. Because it's not easy to show your acting skills, as well as demonstrate Marilyn's renowned, seductive action language.
So, scroll down to see 13 actresses who have helped preserve Monroe’s legacy and story. Whose performance impressed you the most? Let us know in the comment below!
#1 Misty Rowe in the film "Goodbye, Norma Jean" (1976)
https://youtu.be/ypKpxezV4hUShe is the first actress who plays Marilyn Monroe in the 1976 biopic "Goodbye, Norma Jean". It's about Monroe’s path to stardom. And Misty Rowe portrays the actress as Monroe changed from "Norma Jean," Monroe’s birth name that she went by during her teenage years, to Marilyn Monroe, the star that the world grew to know and love.
#2 Madonna in the music video “Material Girl” (1984)
https://youtu.be/6p-lDYPR2P8The "Material Girl" music video was nominated for two MTV Video Music Awards and became a cultural phenomenon in 1984. Madonna famously imitates Marilyn Monroe's pink dress scene from her "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" song "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friends" in the video.
#3 Theresa Russell in the film"Insignificance" (1985)
https://youtu.be/UguoW3xKP8UWe rarely see Marilyn Monroe interacting with characters outside of the true storyline in the films about her. In Nicholas Roig's "Insignificance", Marilyn Monroe (played by Theresa Russell), Senator Joseph McCarthy, Albert Einstein, Joe DiMaggio, and three other 1950s icons were all stuck in a New York City hotel room together. It is an interesting, intelligent, and funny plot. Theresa is known for Marilyn Monroe's familiar halter-neck white dress.
#4 Susan Griffiths in the film "Marilyn and Me" (1991)
https://youtu.be/kGS1gZG_dlsSusan Griffiths may be the actress with the most Marilyn Monore credits, having played the "Some Like It Hot" actress 12 times on film. She not only played Monroe in the 1991 TV movie "Marilyn and Me", but also in three separate TV shows: "Quantum Leap", "Dark Skies", and "Timecop".
#5 Mira Sorvino in the film "Norma Jean & Marilyn" (1996)
https://youtu.be/pjpaSkdOds4The made-for-TV biopic "Norma Jean & Marilyn", which has received accolades from critics, explores the duality of the actress’s past as Norma Jean in the past and Marilyn Monroe in the present. Mira Sorvino plays Marilyn Monroe when she was at the peak of her career.
#6 Ashley Judd in the film "Norma Jean & Marilyn" (1996)
https://youtu.be/pjpaSkdOds4In "Norma Jean & Marilyn," Ashley Judd plays Norma Jean, Marilyn Monroe's younger self, opposite Sorvino. She and Sorvino both were Golden Globe nominees for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Motion Picture for the film.
#7 Poppy Montgomery in "Blonde" (2001)
https://youtu.be/AAaK4ZyvYD4The movie that will be released in 2022 isn't the first adaptation of Oates's Blonde to hit the big screen. Based on the same-named novel, the 2001 two-episode miniseries "Blonde" stars Poppy Montgomery as Marilyn.
#8 Michelle Williams in "My Week with Monroe" (2011)
https://youtu.be/OZkAuwgROK8Michelle Williams said that portraying Marilyn Monroe was one of the toughest acting roles she had ever taken on. And she was nominated for an Oscar for her remarkable performance. The story of "My Week with Monroe" centers on the perspective of the young production assistant Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), who is also a potential lover of Marilyn.
#9 Catherine Hicks in the film "Marilyn: The Untold Story" (1980)
https://youtu.be/Xc23K2-a6EYIn this television movie, Catherine Hicks plays Monroe. The film is about Monroe’s path to stardom and her relationships with her three husbands—James Dougherty, Joe DiMaggio, and Arthur Miller—and her agent, Johnny Hyde.
#10 Blake Lively in an episode of "Gossip Girl"
https://youtu.be/n7Op_Mpyw_YBlake Lively emulated Monroe in a pink dress that the "Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" actress wore in the 1953 film. Serena van der Woodson, played by Lively, fantasizes that she is Marilyn Monroe in this dream scene from the CW hit Gossip Girl while the male stars dance next to her.
#11 Charlotte Sullivan in the film "The Kennedys" (2011)
https://youtu.be/nytjc-e4e3wIn this 2011 political miniseries chronicling the Kennedy family, Charlotte Sullivan played Monroe during her affair with President John F. Kennedy.
#12 Kelli Garner in the film "The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe" (2015)
https://youtu.be/dG8vHPxTU9gThe miniseries "The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe" stars Kelli Garner as Monroe and details her relationship with her mother Gladys Pearl Baker as well as other aspects of her family life (Susan Sarandon). Vanity Fair quoted Garner as saying that while she wasn't the biggest fan of the late actress, she felt that “every young actress has a little Marilyn in her.”
#13 Barbra Niven in the film "The Rat Pack" (1998)
https://youtu.be/Cl9sgD1Fw_sIn "The Rat Pack", Barbra Niven played Monroe in a small supporting role that hinted at the actress's affair with Kennedy—as well as her relationship with Hollywood's high society.
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