Barbara Niven is looking back on a role that continues to hold a special place in her heart.
In a touching post on social media marking what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the actress reflected on portraying the Hollywood icon in the 1998 television film “The Rat Pack” and shared how Monroe’s spirit has remained with her ever since. Beloved by Hallmark fans for her roles like Megan O’Brien in the “Chesapeake Shores” series and Delores Swensen in the “Hannah Swensen Mystery” franchise, Niven also used the tribute to share an inspiring message to her followers that extended beyond nostalgia.
Niven Shares a Message of Love to Her Fans on Monroe’s Birthday
“Happy Heavenly Birthday to Marilyn Monroe, who would be 100 years old today,” wrote Niven in the caption of her June 1 Instagram post. “Like so many other legends, we lost her way too young. It’s hard to imagine what she would have accomplished if she had lived. I hope she would have found the love she so desperately wanted.”
She continued, “It was my eternal honor and privilege to portray her in #TheRatPack, and as crazy as it sounds, I feel that her spirit has been with me ever since. I admire the way she continued learning and reinventing herself, and wasn’t afraid to rock the boat. I wish I could’ve known her.”
“I like to surround myself with things that inspire me, so this is what I look at every day as I sit at my desk,” Niven added, referring to the photo she included in the post, which features “angels,” “crystals,” and “people,” like her mother. Niven explains that one of the photos of her mom reminds her of the support she showed to “go after” her own “dreams.”
There’s also a young photo of Niven herself that she keeps there because it inspires her to “still believe in Love and Light and Joy and Goodness.”
She explains that one of the photos she keeps of Monroe on her desk was a gift from Nancy Malone, whom she describes as “one of the best directors” she ever worked with. Niven and Malone collaborated on on the 1998 sci-fi movie “I Married a Monster.”
“As [Malone] wrote on the back, this was actually owned by Marilyn herself, and it was one of her favorite photos. Marilyn gave it to her bodyguard, who then gave it to Nancy, who passed it on to me. I cherish it,” Niven wrote. “On the left you can see another one of my favorite photos of Marilyn, with her arms stretched wide in joy. That is the way I picture her now, full of light, laughter and love, in Heaven.”
The powerful message that Niven chose to leave fans with reads:
“Choose to be kind. Surround yourself with things that inspire and motivate you. Open your heart and your arms, and discover what it feels like to live in joy and light and laughter. And always, always choose Love.”
Niven Reflects on How ‘Terrifying’ It Was to Portray an Icon Like Monroe
“#Throwback 📸: to when I had the amazing opportunity to play #MarilynMonroe in The Rat Pack (1998),” wrote Niven in the caption of her February 2023 Instagram post. “This was one of the greatest honors, and also a bit terrifying at the same time—because how do you play an ICON? No one can live up to the real Marilyn, but I hope she was happy with what I did. 💖✨”
Despite the trepidations she may have had at the time, fans were quick to praise Niven’s portrayal of Monroe in the comments of her June 1 post:
“No other star could have played Marilyn Monroe, you brought her back to life for millions of younger people to fall in love with her beauty and compassion your desk is a time capsule of love,” one fan wrote.
Another fan added, “So very nicely written! I love Marilyn Monroe too and your display of treasures are amazing! 🩷🩷🩷”
“A lovely tribute written by you and you gave your ALL in portraying her. I’m sure she was smiling down on you those many years ago & continues to watch over you. 🥰🦋🌹” another fan commented.
“The Rat Pack” is centered around “the public and private lives of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr. and Peter Lawford,” per IMDb. The HBO biopic was directed by Rob Cohen. It stars Ray Liotta as Frank Sinatra, Joe Mantegna as Dean Martin, Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis Jr., and Angus Macfadyen as Peter Lawford.
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