The final interview with Marilyn Monroe is set to be released in full for the first time.
The interview, conducted by Richard Meryman, will be published in its entirety in the upcoming book “Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, The Last Interview.” The book also includes previously unseen images from Monroe’s final photo shoot with photographer Allan Grant.
The book release is scheduled for May 12, just weeks before what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday on June 1.
Marilyn Monroe’s Final Interview to Be Released in Full
Portions of the interview originally appeared in an August 3, 1962, issue of Life magazine. Monroe died the following evening at the age of 36. Her death was ruled a probable suicide.
The upcoming book marks the first time the full conversation will be available, offering a more complete look at Monroe’s thoughts in the final days of her life.
During a series of meetings with Meryman, Monroe spoke candidly about fame, identity, and her public image.
“They take pieces out of you,” she said of fame.
She also addressed her status as a global sex symbol.
“If I’m going to be a symbol of something, I’d rather have it be sex than some of the other things they’ve got symbols of,” Monroe said.
Monroe explained that she viewed sexuality as something natural rather than performative.
“I think that sexuality is only attractive when it’s natural and spontaneous. I’ve never acted consciously from a sexual viewpoint,” she added.
The Hollywood Icon Reflects on Fame, Career, and Public Life in Her Final Interview
In the interview, excerpts of which appeared in People, Monroe also spoke about the pressures that came with fame, comparing it to a luxury that can become overwhelming.
“It’s good to have caviar, but if you had it every damn day, you know? Too much caviar,” she said.
She reflected on moments when public attention became physically difficult, including a 1961 hospital appearance.
“The crowds were pushing and my side opened up,” Monroe said. “I realized that people want to see that you’re real.”
Monroe also shared memories of performing for U.S. troops in Korea in 1954, recalling the reaction from large crowds.
“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,” she said.
The interview also includes Monroe’s recollection of her appearance at President John F. Kennedy’s birthday celebration in 1962, where she famously sang “Happy Birthday” to John F. Kennedy.
“There was a hush that came over the place,” Monroe said. “When I got to the microphone, I just took one breath and suddenly, I thought, here goes!”
She also described bringing her former father-in-law, Isidore Miller, to the event.
“I thought this would be the biggest thing in his life,” she said.
“Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, The Last Interview” by Richard Meryman with photographs by Allan Grant will hit shelves on May 12 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.
