1 June 2026 marks 100 years since the birth of Norma Jeane Mortenson; the woman who would become perhaps the defining figure of the Golden Age of Hollywood: Marilyn Monroe.
Although her presence is inescapable, Monroe’s status and standing in the history of Hollywood cinema is complex. Despite being one of the most recognisable movie stars of all time, she is arguably not remembered for her movies themselves.
Instead, Monroe’s filmmaking career is often flattened into isolated, iconic moments that are indelibly burnt into the popular culture retina, but detached from her wider body of work as an actor. Elsewhere, much of Monroe’s celebrity is driven by extracurricular influences that would almost eclipse her achievements as an artist: be that her expert leveraging of the publicity machine, or, indeed, her troubled personal life.
Happy Birthday, Ms Monroe offers a simple, obvious and deeply rewarding reframing of Marilyn Monroe’s legacy: to think of her as a performer first and foremost, before considering her status as a public figure or a product of popular culture. The result? A fascinating journey through a rich and diverse filmography.
Stops along the way include key early roles, underappreciated serious dramatic turns, and – of course – the dazzling blockbusters that lit the fuse on Hollywood’s biggest, boldest blonde bombshell.
Agenda
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Thu 14 May
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Sun 17 May
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Mon 1 Jun
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Sun 14 Jun
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Wed 10 Jun
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Sun 21 Jun
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