On June 1, 2026, the world marked the centenary of the birth of Marilyn Monroe, one of the most iconic figures in the history of cinema. The occasion has been commemorated by institutions such as the British Film Institute and the National Portrait Gallery, prompting renewed reflection on the life and legacy of a woman who was far more complex than the glamorous image that Hollywood projected.
For much of the mainstream media and the general public, Monroe has long been remembered as the archetypal "dumb blonde" and a glamorous sex symbol. Yet this image concealed a very different reality. Marilyn Monroe was neither a natural blonde nor intellectually shallow. Behind the carefully crafted Hollywood persona stood a politically conscious woman of considerable intelligence, sharp wit and strong convictions. She challenged many of the social and cultural structures that sought to confine her and helped redefine what female stardom could mean in modern cinema.
From Norma Jeane to Marilyn Monroe
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles General Hospital, she was the daughter of Gladys Pearl Monroe Baker. Edward Mortenson was listed as her father on her birth certificate, although his whereabouts were unknown.
Monroe's childhood was marked by instability and hardship. She spent much of her early life in foster homes and orphanages, experiences that left a lasting impact on her worldview. At the age of sixteen, she married in an effort to escape the insecurity that had defined her upbringing.
After leaving school, she worked at the Radioplane Company factory during the Second World War. It was there that she was discovered by a military photographer, leading to a successful career as a pin-up model before her eventual recruitment by 20th Century Fox.
Her years in foster care and her experience as a factory worker shaped a lifelong sympathy for working people and the socially marginalized. The journey from a working-class existence to international stardom never entirely erased her awareness of inequality and exploitation.
Monroe's rise to fame during the 1950s transformed her into one of the world's most recognizable celebrities. Her most memorable performances came in films such as The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), Niagara (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Some Like It Hot (1959), and The Misfits (1961).
Despite her enormous success, her life ended tragically when she died of an overdose at her Brentwood home in August 1962 at the age of thirty-six.
Intelligence Behind the Image
The Hollywood establishment invested heavily in cultivating Monroe's image as a glamorous but naïve blonde. In reality, she was an avid reader who took a deep interest in literature, politics and social issues.
According to accounts from the period, she performed exceptionally well on intelligence tests administered during her factory years. Although IQ measurements from that era are widely debated today, the reports nevertheless challenge the simplistic stereotype that Hollywood carefully cultivated around her.
Many of those who knew Monroe personally emphasized her curiosity, intelligence and determination to develop as a serious actress rather than merely a marketable celebrity.
Under FBI Surveillance
Monroe's political views and associations attracted the attention of the Federal Bureau of Investigation during the height of Cold War anti-communism.
Under FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover and amid the atmosphere created by McCarthyism, progressive political opinions often became grounds for official suspicion. FBI surveillance of Monroe reportedly began after she and several other entertainers sought visas to visit the Soviet Union in 1955 and continued until her death in 1962.
The Bureau never found evidence that Monroe was a member of the Communist Party USA. Nevertheless, officials remained concerned about her relationships with individuals who held left-wing political views.
One of the figures who attracted FBI attention was Frederick Vanderbilt Field, an American expatriate living in Mexico who had become known for his socialist beliefs. Field later wrote that Monroe expressed strong support for civil rights, racial equality, opposition to McCarthyism and admiration for aspects of the Chinese Revolution.
FBI documents reveal that agents closely monitored her political associations and international contacts. Yet even within the Bureau, some investigators acknowledged that while Monroe's views were distinctly left-leaning, there was no evidence linking her to Communist Party activity.
A Voice Against Racism
One of the most significant aspects of Monroe's legacy was her willingness to challenge racial discrimination.
Her friendship with the legendary singer Ella Fitzgerald remains one of the best-known examples. In the mid-1950s, Fitzgerald faced barriers to performing at prestigious venues because of racial prejudice.
When Monroe learned that Fitzgerald had been denied opportunities at the famous Mocambo nightclub in Los Angeles, she used her celebrity influence to help secure the singer a booking. Monroe reportedly promised the club owner that she would attend performances and bring other celebrities with her. The arrangement succeeded, and Fitzgerald later acknowledged Monroe's support as an important turning point in her career.
At a time when many stars avoided political controversy, Monroe openly supported civil rights and racial equality.
Challenging Hollywood's Power Structure
Monroe's struggle was not limited to racial issues. She also challenged the sexist and exploitative nature of the Hollywood studio system.
In 1954, dissatisfied with the restrictive terms imposed by 20th Century Fox, she founded Marilyn Monroe Productions with photographer Milton Greene. The move was revolutionary for its time. By establishing her own production company, Monroe sought greater control over her career and challenged a studio system that treated actors, particularly women, as commodities.
Her decision helped pave the way for future generations of performers seeking creative and financial independence.
Throughout her career, Monroe spoke openly about the pressures imposed upon her by the entertainment industry.
"An actress is not a machine, but they treat you like a machine. A money machine," she once remarked.
She also reflected critically on the label that had defined her public image:
"That's the trouble, a sex symbol becomes a thing. I just hate being a thing."
These comments reveal a woman acutely aware of how celebrity culture objectified women while profiting from their image.
Political Convictions and Social Engagement
Monroe maintained friendships with artists, writers and intellectuals who challenged mainstream political orthodoxy. Her marriage to playwright Arthur Miller in 1956 attracted considerable attention, particularly because Miller had faced scrutiny during the anti-communist investigations of the era.
She opposed nuclear weapons, expressed support for trade unions and frequently voiced concern for social justice. Although she never joined the Communist Party, she demonstrated sympathy for progressive causes and remained outspoken against racial discrimination and political repression.
Her political outlook reflected not ideological dogmatism but a strong moral concern for equality, human dignity and social justice.
Reassessing Marilyn Monroe
The popular image of Marilyn Monroe has often overshadowed the complexity of her life. Hollywood marketed her as a glamorous blonde whose primary appeal was physical beauty. Yet beneath that image was a woman who read extensively, questioned authority, challenged discrimination and sought greater autonomy over her career.
Monroe accepted that her beauty gave her influence, but she resisted being reduced to an object. She understood both the power and the limitations of celebrity, using her fame whenever possible to support causes she believed in.
The evidence does not support the claim that Monroe was a communist. What it does reveal is a woman deeply concerned with social justice, sympathetic to progressive causes and willing to challenge racism, sexism and political intolerance during one of the most conservative periods in modern American history.
A century after her birth, Marilyn Monroe deserves to be remembered not only as a screen icon but also as a courageous and intelligent woman who sought to transcend the narrow roles assigned to her. Beyond the glamour, she remains a symbol of resistance to exploitation, a champion of equality and a figure whose political and social convictions continue to invite fresh examination.
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*Freelance journalist
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