When people imagine the world's most photographed woman they think of Marilyn Monroe: an embodiment of beauty and tragedy, she said — one of the most recognizable and most repeated images in Hollywood history. However, some of her shots register as unsettling (if not outright creepy) because of what happened immediately in their aftermath or the emotional charge managed in the frame. Here are a few that may leave you with an unsettling feeling:
This image was captured during Marilyn’s iconic performance for President John F. Kennedy at Madison Square Garden, May 1962. Although she looks beautiful in the glamorous white dress, there is a tinge of melancholy to the photograph, because it was captured right before her tragic demise several months later. The anbutal, in conjunction with the context of her romantic fling with Kennedy, gives it a menacing aspect that runs contrary to the joy of the occasion.
Some of the last photos taken of Marilyn before her death in August 1962 are haunting. In these shots, she appears distant and out of sync with her usual bubbly persona, showing a more vulnerable, exhausted side. The images were taken just days before she was found dead in her home, leading many to believe that these photographs captured the final days of her life, giving them a somber and unsettling undertone.
### 3. **The "Sad Marilyn" Photos (1960s)**
There are numerous images of Monroe where her expression is vacant or melancholic. These photos were taken during a time when she was struggling with depression, substance abuse, and her tumultuous relationships. The vacant look in her eyes, combined with her disheveled appearance, makes these images feel especially haunting, as they seem to hint at the emotional turmoil she was experiencing at the time.
### 4. **The “Norma Jeane” Photos (Before Marilyn)**
Some of the earlier photos of Marilyn, taken when she was still known as Norma Jeane Mortenson, show a more innocent version of her. While many of these images are lovely, there's a subtle eeriness in how young and unaware she seems, as though she’s about to step into the role of the tragic star that would eventually be her fate. The idea of a young woman before she fully became the glamorous Monroe gives these photos an almost unsettling sense of foreshadowing.
### 5. **Marilyn with a Cigarette (Various Photoshoots)**
Many of Marilyn’s photos feature her holding a cigarette, a symbol often associated with the era’s glamour. However, in some images, her cigarette seems to symbolize something darker. The way she holds it, her expression of isolation, and the absence of the usual playful sparkle in her eyes create an eerie contrast. These photos often leave a sense that the glamorous Monroe was hiding a more sinister side, perhaps a deeper emptiness beneath the surface.
### 6. **The “Red Lipstick” Photoshoot (1961)**
In some images from this shoot, Marilyn appears to be staring into the distance with a haunting expression. The heavy red lipstick, the stark lighting, and her somber gaze give a ghostly quality to the photos. Her often celebrated sex appeal is juxtaposed with an almost unsettling sadness in her eyes, making these photos some of her most enigmatic and disturbing.
While Marilyn Monroe's photos capture the beauty, charm, and elegance that made her a timeless icon, certain images take on a more chilling undertone due to the tragic events of her life and her struggles with mental health, fame, and personal turmoil. These photographs offer a glimpse into a woman who, despite being adored by millions, was often deeply lonely and misunderstood.