Marilyn Monroe’s hidden world heads to auction

Memorabilia belonging to late model and movie star Marilyn Monroe is heading to auction, offering a rare glimpse into the private world of one of Hollywood’s most enduring legends. Items up for sale include pieces from her wardrobe, jewelry, letters, handwritten notes, paintings and poetry.
“Marilyn is just an icon”, said Brian Chanes, senior director of Hollywood and entertainment at Heritage Auctions, during a preview of the collection in Los Angeles. “People love and adore Marilyn to this day”.
Born Norma Jeane Mortenson in Los Angeles in 1926, Monroe became a renowned actress, model and singer known for her blonde hair and hourglass figure. She died in 1962.
The auction, opening to the public on June 1 to coincide with what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday, features items from the estate of poets Norman Rosten and Hedda Rosten, close friends and confidants of the actress. The collection includes personal belongings dating from 1955 to 1962.
Among the most striking offerings are previously unseen documents shedding light on Monroe’s inner life, including her romantic relationships, fears surrounding a lost pregnancy and reflections on mortality.
“It’s really special because this isn’t material that’s been bought and sold over the decades”, Chanes said. “This is something that’s a discovery”.
The auction also includes correspondence from Monroe’s ex-husband, playwright Arthur Miller, revealing the emotional complexities of their marriage, as well as a letter from Monroe’s psychiatrist describing the day leading up to her death.
Chanes highlighted one emotional piece written while Monroe was filming Some Like It Hot. Writing on stationery from the Hotel del Coronado, Monroe described feeling overwhelmed as her struggles threatened to derail production.
“You can feel the anguish in her writing”, Chanes said, noting that Monroe also sketched a stick figure submerged in water, an image reflecting the mental health struggles she faced throughout her career. — Reuters