And if she were a mother, she would have ambivalent feelings about her children getting into the Hollywood business. She had a complicated relationship with fame and the entertainment industry, and she struggled with the pressures and demands that came with it. As an actress who was under constant scrutiny, she was intimately aware of the toll stardom can take on a person’s mental and emotional health.
Drawing on her own background, which deeply informed her views about family and motherhood. Having grown up in foster care, and never experienced family stability herself, she may have perceived having children as an opportunity to give them a better life.” But with how difficult her own career was, she might have wanted to protect her children from the pitfalls of Hollywood stardom.
Monroe's career was a double-edged sword. On one hand, her status as a beloved icon brought her financial success, and she certainly appreciated the opportunity it gave her to support herself and others. On the other hand, her personal life was marred by anxiety, depression, and the isolating nature of fame. She was often quoted expressing her disillusionment with the entertainment industry, particularly how it affected her relationships and self-esteem. It’s likely she would have wanted her children to have the option to pursue a career in the arts but would have been cautious about the overwhelming pressures of fame.
In her interviews and personal reflections, Monroe sometimes mentioned her desire for a family life and stability. She once said, “I just want to be wonderful.” She craved normalcy, which she perhaps believed would come from having a family of her own. Her unstable personal life and several marriages—including high-profile unions with Joe DiMaggio and Arthur Miller—may have deepened her wish to create a safe, nurturing environment for any potential children, free from the insecurities she often battled.
However, Monroe’s passion for acting and the arts was undeniable, and she may have wanted to share her love of film and performance with her children. It's also possible she would have been supportive of their creative pursuits, offering them a different perspective on Hollywood—one that embraced artistry over fame and encouraged them to find fulfillment outside of the industry's constraints.
In summary, while Marilyn Monroe likely would have been proud of her children’s potential to succeed in the entertainment world, she probably would have been cautious about the hardships of fame. Ultimately, she would have wanted her children to have choices, a stable family life, and the opportunity to define their own paths—whether or not that included a career in Hollywood. Her own experiences likely taught her that fame could come with significant personal costs, and she might have been determined to protect her family from those same struggles.