Hollywood begins centenary celebrations of Marilyn Monroe with exhibitions, tributes

Fans are gathering at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, where Monroe’s handprints are permanently displayed alongside those of her Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) co-star Jane Russell

CALIFORNIA: (UrduPoint/UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News-June 1^st, 2026) Hollywood has launched a series of events marking the 100th birth anniversary of legendary actress Marilyn Monroe in her hometown of Los Angeles, beginning Monday.

Fans are gathering at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre, where Monroe’s handprints are permanently displayed alongside those of her Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) co-star Jane Russell.

Attendees are expected to sing “Happy Birthday” in her honour, while organisers plan to place 100 roses and a commemorative cake at the site, reflecting her enduring status as a Hollywood icon.

The centenary celebrations officially began over the weekend with the opening of a major exhibition at the academy Museum titled Marilyn Monroe: Hollywood Icon. The display highlights her film career, personal journey, and cultural impact.

The museum is also hosting screenings of several of her most famous films throughout the month, including The Asphalt Jungle (1950), Niagara (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Some Like It Hot (1959), and The Misfits (1961).

The exhibition, which will continue until February 2027, features a collection of rare memorabilia associated with Monroe. Among the key exhibits is her iconic pink dress worn during the performance of Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, one of the most recognisable costumes in Hollywood history.

Separately, Julien’s Auctions is set to present nearly 200 items linked to Monroe later this week under its “100 Years of Marilyn” sale.

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The auction will include rare photographs, annotated scripts from her final projects, personal belongings, handwritten notes, recipes, and beauty items such as her Elizabeth Arden lipstick.

Born in Los Angeles on June 1, 1926, Marilyn Monroe experienced a difficult childhood, spending time in foster homes and orphanages. She married at the age of 16 and entered the entertainment industry in 1944 after being photographed while working in a wartime factory.

She later transitioned into modelling, adopting the platinum blonde image that became her signature and helped transform her into one of the most recognised global stars of the 20th century.

Beyond her screen success, Monroe founded her own production company, trained at the Actors Studio in New York, and challenged studio decisions during her contract years with 20th Century Fox, including rejecting roles she considered unfair or underpaid.

She was also among the early Hollywood figures to publicly criticise the industry’s treatment of women, highlighting gender inequality in the entertainment sector decades before such discussions became widespread.

Marilyn Monroe died in August 1962 at the age of 36, but her legacy continues to influence global cinema and popular culture more than six decades later.