Was Marilyn Monroe a Good Actor? She Trained With the BestHome > EntertainmentSource: Getty Images
Was Marilyn Monroe a Good Actor Her Skills Have Been Debated
By Anna GarrisonSep. 29 2022, Published 11:12 a.m. ET Pop culture icon, actress, and songstress Marilyn Monroe is best known for her roles in films such as Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, Some Like It Hot, The Seven Year Itch, Bus Stop, The Prince and the Showgirl, and The Misfits. Article continues below advertisement Typically, films about Marilyn focus tend to focus on her turbulent life over her dedication to her craft. So, was Marilyn Monroe a good actor? Here's what we know about her acting style and talent, explained.Source: Getty ImagesArticle continues below advertisement Was Marilyn Monroe a good actor
The quality of Marilyn's acting is almost entirely reliant on opinion. Yet, regardless of how anyone feels about her performance chops, she was trained by some of the best. After being signed by 20th Century Fox in her first-ever six-month contract, the studio put her in a "boot camp" of sorts, where she took acting and singing classes and observed the film-making process. The studio also reportedly enrolled her in the Actors' Laboratory Theatre — an acting school that taught techniques of the Group Theatre. Marilyn said it was her "first taste of what real acting in a real drama could be." However, her teachers at the time found her "too shy," and Fox did not renew her contract. Marilyn wouldn't return to Fox until 1951. Article continues below advertisementSource: Getty Images It's no secret that, upon eventually breaking her contract with 20th Century Fox and moving to New York City, Marilyn trained with Lee and Paula Strasberg at the Actor's Studio to study method acting. Article continues below advertisement Marilyn was learning the very building blocks of her craft. Author Michelle Morgan, who has written several books about Marilyn Monroe's life, told The Sunday Post, "[The Strasbergs] were the pioneers of method acting and wouldn’t have accepted her if she’d just been ‘eye candy.'"Source: Getty ImagesArticle continues below advertisement Michelle added, "From the very beginning Marilyn described herself as an actress and said, ‘Well, if they’re putting me in these fluffy roles or musicals, at least I can hone my craft, and then I can go on to something more serious.'" Part of the reason Marilyn fled 20th Century Fox in the first place was their disregard for her acting ability, preferring instead to put her in roles she believed enforced a "ditzy blonde" stereotype. Although some of Marilyn's more established co-stars, such as Lawrence Olivier, sometimes criticized her for having difficulty learning her lines, she eventually won them over too. Marie Claire reports that after Marilyn's venture to the Actor's Studio, her performance in Bus Stop was critically acclaimed. Article continues below advertisementSource: Getty Images At the time, reporter Arthur Knight wrote of her abilities, "Speaking of artists, we have a very real one right in our midst...for miss Monroe has accomplished what is unquestionably the most difficult feat for any film personality. She has submerged herself so completely in the role that one searches in vain for glimpses of the former calendar girl." Some were never satisfied with Marilyn's performances, but it's clear that no matter what anyone thought of her work, she was determined to be taken seriously as an artist after previously only being valued for her appearance. AdvertisementMore from Distractify The Person Living in Marilyn Monroe's House Is Closer to the Late Actress Than You Think Was 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes' Star Marilyn Monroe a Natural Blonde? What Does Marilyn Monroe's Relationship History Really Look Like? Latest Entertainment News and UpdatesAdvertisementABOUT DistractifyAbout UsPrivacy PolicyTerms of UseDMCASitemapCONNECT with DistractifyLink to Facebook Link to TwitterLink to InstagramContact us by Email Copyright 2022 Distractify. Distractify is a registered trademark. All Rights Reserved. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.