The woman who invented Marilyn Monroe

Charlotte Vosper explores the remarkable life and career of Marilyn Monroe and reveals the hardworking, career-driven woman behind the blonde bombshell image

Published: June 19, 2026 at 9:46 AM

Save

For decades, Marilyn Monroe has been remembered as the ultimate blonde bombshell.

Ad

But behind the famous white dress, platinum hair and breathy voice was a fiercely ambitious woman who spent years carefully constructing the image that made her into a global icon.

Ad

In this episode, HistoryExtra's Charlotte Vosper draws on a podcast interview with Lucy Bolton, tracing Marilyn's extraordinary journey from a childhood marked by poverty, instability and foster homes, to international superstardom. We explore how Norma Jeane Mortenson reinvented herself as Marilyn Monroe, challenging the Hollywood studio system and working relentlessly to shape her own career.

Authors

Charlotte VosperContent producer

Charlotte Vosper is a content producer at HistoryExtra

Ad

Ad

Loading...

Ad

Loading...