2. The Dumb Blonde

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Who was the real Marilyn Monroe? Celebrating 100 years of an icon. In her final interview, Marilyn Monroe observed: “When you're famous, you run into human nature in a raw kind of way. People think: Who is she? Who does she think she is, Marilyn Monroe?” Who was Marilyn Monroe? It depends who you ask. Some dismissed her as a dumb blonde, others say she was a savvy self-promoter, an influencer before influencers existed. Some labelled her a diva who was late to set and ruined takes, others argue she was an artist fighting back against the studio machine. Many say she was a victim, a martyr, a tragedy – others say she was a survivor. Celebrating 100 years of Marilyn Monroe, Ellen E Jones overturns the myths of Monroe – many of which she created herself. Speaking with those who knew Marilyn best, Ellen explores five ‘faces’ of the blonde bombshell. In this episode, we meet Marilyn Monroe: 'The Dumb Blonde'. Ellen explores how Marilyn self-consciously created this persona, then found herself trapped within it. We hear from Marilyn's close friend and peer Mamie van Doren, her 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' backup dancer George Chakiris, makeup artist Erin Parsons, author of 'Blonde' Joyce Carol Oates, BFI programmer Kimberley Sheehan, and collector Bryan Johns. Presented by Ellen E Jones Produced by Alice McKee for BBC Audio