Marilyn Monroe: The Truth Behind The Smile | Culture Explained

Marilyn Monroe is one of the most recognizable faces in history — but how much do we actually know about her? In this video, we go beyond the "blonde bombshell" myth and uncover the real Marilyn Monroe: a woman who fought for control, challenged Hollywood and was far ahead of her time. From her difficult childhood and rise to fame to her battles with the studio system, mental health and public image — this is the story rarely told. Why was she misunderstood? How did Hollywood shape her identity? And why does her story still matter today? On what would have been her 100th birthday, we take a new look at her life, her power and her legacy. CHAPTERS 00:00 Love, Fame and Power 02:00 From orphanage to Hollywood 04:52 Fighting for respect 08:27 Taking back control 11:06 Behind the smile: her struggles 12:36 Marilyn and Mexico 15:08 Her final chapter 17:37 Why Marilyn still matters CREDITS Report: Melanie Matthäus Camera: Sandy Palenzuela Edit: Jennifer Gärtner Producers: Oliver Glasenapp, Sabine Kieselbach Executive Producers: Matthias Frickel, Melanie von Marschalck #dwculture #dwcultureexplained For more visit: https://www.dw.com/en/culture/s-1441 Please follow DW's netiquette: https://p.dw.com/p/MF1G