01/06/2026
Marilyn Monroe, born 100 years ago today
“The cultural prominence of 'old' movies may be shrinking, but Marilyn's face is still one of the world's most famous. People barely out of their teens, who have never seen a movie made before the Harry Potter series, can identify her.
“That has, paradoxically, hurt the way her talent is assessed, not helped. There's SO much baggage with Monroe. Not just the misfortunes, or the mistakes that Marilyn herself made over time – she was, like all of us, doing her best – but the weight of rumours, stereotypes, conspiracy theories, all of it magnified by the sad fact of her early death.
“Such crazy and ever-changing fame can put people off. They roll their eyes and claim they'd rather leave her to gossip shows, obsessives, influencers and rich people angling for the red carpet at the Met Gala. But avoiding the Marilyn industry is one thing; avoiding her films is needless self-denial. The world doesn't offer us much pleasure right now, and there are few things in cinema more joyous than discovering just how good Marilyn could be.”
Farran Smith Nehme, writing in S&S's newest issue, which pays tribute to the great actress.
Get your copy: https://shop.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound-june-2026/
