Madonna

Marilyn’s image sells, so, if Marilyn’s image sells… just imagine you’re an aspiring singer or actress or both! What gave this icon her status? What was it about her that endures? For many people that have become enchanted with Marilyn it would have been her image that captured their attention first.

Madonna, an astute and naturally gifted business woman – recognised the impact that ‘re-creating’ Marilyn would have – without having to take the time to carve a style of her own using Marilyn’s look immediately gave her Sex Goddess status and she used it to her full advantage. Though whilst Madonna has a successful career as a singer and entertainer her attempts at becoming an actress have not been as well received.

 In an interview with Denise Worrell in 1985 for Time Magazine Madonna said that as a child she was captivated by films and their stars, saying “I loved Carole Lombard and Judy Holliday and Marilyn Monroe. They were all incredibly funny… and I saw myself in them… my girlishness, my knowingness and my innocence”

 In February 1985 Madonna stepped up her game and released ‘Material Girl’ the video that accompanied the song was a spin on Marilyn’s ‘Diamond’s Are a Girls Best Friend’ musical scene from one of her most successful movies (arguably the film that made Marilyn the iconic star and legend she is today) Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The lyrics of Material Girl plagiarise the subtext of Diamonds 

 Whether its homage, parody or outright plagiarism, one thing is for certain – this song and video firmly established Madonna in the pop culture history archives.  Ironically, Madonna has stated that she regrets recording this song due to the fact that she has since become known as ‘The Material Girl’ however, would Madonna have been so successful in her career to date had she not ‘borrowed’ so heavily from Marilyn Monroe?

Debbie Harry

The singer Debbie Harry who is also known as Blondie has always identified with Marilyn. The following extract was taken from an interview for Radio Times, September 2007. Debbie whose birth name was ‘Angela Trimble was adopted in 1945, once tried to trace her mother but wasn't convinced by the findings of the detective she hired. Not knowing her ancestry has, she believes, played a significant role in her search for identity. 

"It gave me a depth of imagination maybe lacking in people who know their lineage. There's a sense of freedom because there's always a question there." 

At the height of Blondie-mania, it was said that she believed she was the illegitimate daughter of Marilyn Monroe. Had she ever considered it a possibility? 

"No. But there was a time in my life when I wanted to have that, because I thought it was glamorous and mysterious." 

Debbie and her one time partner and band member Chris Stein brought one of Marilyn’s dresses from an auction in the mid 1970’s. Unfortunately, the dress was partially burned in a fire but there are photographs of Debbie wearing it in “Making Tracks” The Rise of Blondie 1982 published by Da Capo Press inc.

Anna Nicole Smith

One of the most tragic celebrity Marilyn lookalikes was the late Anna Nicole Smith.

 Whilst Many Monroe purists find it hard to accept the comparisons between Anna Nicole and Marilyn comparisons continue to be drawn.

 Anna Nicole was born Vickie Lynn Hogan on November 28^th 1967, having had a troubled childhood she married at 17 but one son and two years later she was divorced. Following the breakdown of her marriage she changed her name to Anna Nicole Smith and found jobs as a waitress and Walmart cashier but her ambition was to be a model and actress.

 Whilst working as a topless dancer she met and married millionaire J. Howard Marshall, who at the ripe old age of 88 was a man more than 60yrs her senior. She began pursuing her dream career. After posing in Playboy she was named 1994’s Playmate of the year. This gave her the stepping stone she needed, she achieved a lucrative modelling contract with Guess Jeans, movie and TV roles followed.

 Taking on the image of her idol, Marilyn Monroe, Anna Nicole sported the blonde goddess look.

14 months after her marriage to the elderly millionaire she became a widow. A long court battle took place with the millionaires family regarding her worthiness to inherit Marshall’s millions.

 Like Marilyn Anna Nicole was passionate about animal welfare, in 2004 she campaigned on behalf of the anti-fur group PETA spoofing Marilyn’s “Diamond’s Are a Girls Best Friend” as “Gentleman Prefer Fur-free Blondes”

Unfortunately, Anna Nicole was unable to take charge of her life which ultimately spiralled out of control. In September 2006, just 3 days after Anna gave birth to her second child, a to a daughter she named Dannielynn, her beloved 20yr old son Daniel died suddenly from a suspected drug overdose.

This was devastating for Anna Nicole and she died in a blaze of publicity on the 8th February 2007 at the age of 39. The results of her post-mortem suggested that she died of an accidental overdose “combined drug intoxication” according to the Foresnsic Pathologist Dr Joshua Perper, with the sleeping medication choloral hydrate as the "major component."  No illegal drugs were found in her system.

Charlize Theron

Another modern day actress that is currently being considered to play Monroe in a Tom Hanks produced film, based on the Anthony Summers Marilyn biography 'Goddess' is Oscar winning actress Charlize Theron. Charlize has a chameleon like quality, initially there seems to be very little about Charlize that would give the idea that she could competently portray Marilyn from a visual perspective. However, after some time in makeup it appears that Charlize could actually pull it off! Theron herself is said to be a huge Marilyn Monroe fan and at one time considered buying Marilyn's former home.

Other Marilyn Inspired Celebrities

Countless celebrities have borrowed from Marilyn's style book - some with more subtlety than others, some fleetingly and some more regularly - here are a few more Marilyn girls of the 21st Century!

Lisa Marie Presley	Christina Aguilera
Drew Barrymore	Gwen Stefani

Lindsay Lohan ~ Recreating The Last Sitting!

Lindsay is currently kicking up a storm of controversy in the Marilyn community right now with her interpretation of The Last Sitting. Having been given the opportunity to have this photoshoot with the legendry Bert Stern, you can't blame a girl for agreeing! The question is... should she have gone public with them?

Take a look and see what you think?