A Girl’s Best Friend: Marilyn Monroe Remembered by Her Closest Confidants
Four days before what would have been her 100th birthday, Hollywood legends look back on their friendships with a woman who, underneath the studio sheen, was warm, supportive and empathetic
TL;DR
- Marilyn Monroe had a wide circle of friends, including many women, who remember her as a "girl's girl".
- Female friendships were reflected in her movies, such as 'How to Marry a Millionaire' and 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes'.
- Despite rivalries, like with Mamie Van Doren, there was solidarity among women in the male-dominated studio system.
- Key male friends and collaborators included photographers Milton Greene, Lawrence Schiller, and Sam Shaw.
- Monroe was involved in creative projects and photoshoots, showing her understanding of photography and star power.
- Confidants suggest her relationships with powerful men like JFK were less significant than her platonic friendships.
- Her desire for children was complex, and she found maternal outlets through friendships and relationships with children.
- Friends recall her as joyous, funny, intellectually curious, and ambitious, differing from tabloid portrayals.