The entire final interview of Marilyn Monroe with Life magazine editor Richard Meryman, which ran on August 3, 1962, is set to be published for the first time in the upcoming book "Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, The Last Interview." This publication not only includes the complete interview but also never-before-seen images from her final photo shoot with photographer Allan Grant. Tragically, Monroe passed away the following evening due to a barbiturate overdose, her death ruled a probable suicide.
In her final interview, excerpts of which are available on People's website, Marilyn spoke candidly about her status as an international sex symbol. The 36-year-old icon embraced the title and even expressed a desire to act in more explicit scenes in movies. "I’m going to be a symbol of something, so I’d rather have it be sex than some of the other things they’ve got symbols of," she told Meryman. "I think that sexuality is only attractive when it’s natural and spontaneous. I’ve never acted consciously from a sexual viewpoint."
"First of all, I’ve never had an erotic scene," she added. "I’ve always wanted to test it out and see if I could do it. We are all born sexual creatures, thank god. It’s a pity so many people despise and crush this natural gift. Because art, real art, comes from it."
The interview is being published in its entirety just ahead of Marilyn's 100th birthday on June 1st. She also told Maryman that she viewed fame just as she did caviar - "it’s good to have caviar, but if you had it every damn day, you know? Too much caviar."
"The time I came out of the hospital in New York [in 1961], that was a little rough because I had just had a gallbladder operation and the crowds were pushing and my side opened up," Marilyn continued. "I realized that people want to see that you’re real. I never felt I had an effect on people until I was in Korea [in 1954]. There would be 75,000 men sitting in their parkas in the snow, and when I’d come out, they’d whistle and call out my name for 10 minutes before I could even get started."
"Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, The Last Interview" is scheduled to be published on May 12th.
