Blonde

Norma Jeane Mortenson, also known as Marilyn Monroe, experiences a tumultuous upbringing under the care of her mentally unstable mother, Gladys. On her seventh birthday in 1933, she receives a photo of a man purported to be her father, igniting her curiosity about her origins.

That same night after receiving the photo, a fire erupts in the Hollywood Hills. Gladys insists on taking Norma Jeane there to find her father, but their quest is interrupted by police intervention, forcing them to return home.

In a fit of rage concerning her father's absence, Gladys nearly drowns Norma Jeane during a bathing incident. This traumatic experience propels Norma Jeane to seek refuge in a neighbor's house, illustrating the extent of her chaotic home life.

A few days later, Gladys is committed to a mental institution, leaving Norma Jeane to navigate the foster care system. Despite insisting she is not an orphan, she is forced into a new reality as she becomes part of the system.

Transitioning into the 1940s, Norma Jeane adopts the persona of Marilyn Monroe and gains fame as a pin-up girl, featured on magazine covers. However, her rise to stardom is marred by a harrowing assault from a prominent film studio executive.

In 1950, Norma Jeane auditions for the film 'Don't Bother to Knock' but suffers an emotional breakdown during her performance. Despite this setback, her talent shines through, leading the casting director to still cast her in the role.

A decade after rising to stardom, Norma Jeane visits her mother in a hospital but finds that Gladys does not recognize her. Driven by a yearning to understand her roots, she delves into studio records to search for information about her father, but finds no answers.

As her career flourishes, Norma Jeane engages in a polyamorous relationship with Charles 'Cass' Chaplin Jr. and Edward G. Robinson Jr. Despite sharing a fulfilling bond, the pressure from her studio limits her public appearances with them, highlighting her struggle to balance her public and private life.

While joyfully discovering her pregnancy, Norma Jeane is plagued by fears that her child could inherit her mother's mental illness. In a tragic twist, she hesitates on the day of her scheduled abortion, only to find it's too late to reclaim her pregnancy, deepening her sense of loss.

Norma Jeane's life takes a new turn when she marries Joe DiMaggio, a retired athlete who understands her struggles. However, their relationship quickly deteriorates amid jealousy and domestic violence, leading to her decision to divorce him soon after.

In 1955, Norma Jeane auditions for a Broadway play written by Arthur Miller. Initially unimpressed, he transitions as her captivating performance awakens chemistry between them, ultimately leading to their marriage and a shared hope for a brighter future.

After embracing life in Maine, Norma Jeane suffers a miscarriage that propels her back into the tumultuous world of acting. The loss rekindles the chaos in her life, forcing her to confront the persistent pressures of her career.

While filming 'Some Like It Hot', Norma Jeane spirals into emotional breakdowns due to media scrutiny and personal isolation from Arthur. Her reliance on substances intensifies, as she finds it increasingly difficult to juggle fame and personal turmoil.

By 1962, Norma Jeane battles an overwhelming dependency on drugs and encounters troubling situations involving powerful figures like President John F. Kennedy. Each experience leaves her feeling more detached from her real self and deepens her existing psychological struggles.

After learning of Cass's death, Norma Jeane uncovers painful truths about her past and the injustices she suffered. Heartbroken, she ultimately succumbs to an overdose of barbiturates, marking a tragic end to her life story and leaving behind the complex legacy of Marilyn Monroe.