A woman who loved deeply, and strove to perfect her craft, who was playful, funny and impossibly charming, Marilyn Monroe, died a mysterious death at a very young age of 36.

Known to be the iconic sex symbol of Hollywood cinema, the actress in spite of a very short tenure in the glamor world, made her work memorable for generations.

Born on June 1, 1926, Marilyn Monroe entered the industry and stunned people with her famed performances as an actress, singer and model. From minor roles, she soon progressed to lead roles and her performance made her a legendary.

Once described as the 'Talk of the Hollywood' by Life magazine in 1952, Monroe has been caught in a scandal for posing bare in pictures with photographer Tom Kelley, which was featured in a calendar.

Ranked as the sixth greatest female star of all time by the American Film Institute, Monroe's last few years were filled with health and personal problems and she gained a reputation of being 'unreliable' and 'difficult to work with'. Her unexplained death was officially termed as a 'probable suicide' after she died of an overdose of pills.

Had the actress lived, she would have turned 85 today.

Marilyn Monroe in Fragments
Jotted in notebooks, typed on paper or written on hotel letterhead, these texts contained in "Fragments" reveal a woman who loved deeply and strove to perfect her craft, and who was playful, funny and impossibly charming. Harper Collins Australia
Marilyn Monroe
"Fragments" explores the life and mind of an icon, and offers a unique look into the private thoughts and reflections of one of Hollywood’s brightest and most tragic stars. Harper Collins Australia
Marilyn Monroe
"Fragments: Poems, Intimate Notes, Letter" by MARILYN MONROE is edited by Stanley Buchthal and Bernard Comment. Harper Collins Australia
Marilyn Monroe
The iconic sex symbol may have had a short life but it was enough for her work to make an impact. Her roles in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes” in 1953 and “The Seven Year Itch” in 1955 went completely unnoticed by The Academy. Reuters
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