#3. Marilyn Monroe

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One of the most iconic celebrities of the 20th century, Marilyn Monroe was in many ways a tragic figure who, as the saying goes, lived fast and died young.

Monroe’s life story was a classic Hollywood tale: an unknown girl who becomes a movie star, and eventually falls prey to her own demons and dies tragically.

Monroe was born in Los Angeles in 1926 as Norma Jeane Mortenson. Her early life was marked by instability and trauma, as she was passed around among several foster families and orphanages. Like many women, she answered the call during World War II and worked at a defense factory while men were overseas fighting. She began modeling in 1945 and found success in that field. Monroe began appeared in small parts in films in the late 1940s.

It was the early 1950s that saw Marilyn Monroe become a superstar. Her good looks and fun-loving personality made her a sex symbol throughout the world. Monroe’s notable film credits include Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Seven Year Itch, Some Like It Hot, and How to Marry a Millionaire.

Monroe’s personal life was fraught with disappointment, and she was married and divorced three times, including to baseball star Joe DiMaggio and writer Arthur Miller. Monroe died of a drug overdose in 1962 at the age of 36.