Marilyn Monroe was arguably the most famous woman of the 20th century, and is one of the most iconic women to grace this planet today. Thousands upon thousands of articles have been written about her, ranging from conspiracy theories to odd tidbits about her life.

Marilyn Monroe was born as Norma Jean Baker and lived in an orphanage. Her mother had to give her up after being institutionalized due to her paranoid schizophrenia. In total Marilyn had 11 sets of foster parents. Her constant moving around made it hard to get a real education.

From the time Marilyn was a child up until she was into her teenage years, young Marilyn had a stutter. Eventually it disappeared. But that wasn’t the end of it.

According to the legend herself, Marilyn Monroe was a huge part in getting Ella Fitzgerald to the top. Ella is quoted as saying, “I owe Marilyn Monroe a real debt…she personally called the owner of the Mocambo, and told him she wanted booked immediately, and if he would do it, she would take a front table every night.”

Marilyn’s famous in the flesh photographs, which went on to make Hugh Hefner millions of dollars, only got Marilyn $50. The photos were originally taken in 1949 by a photographer named Tom Kelly and were then used in a calendar.

Marilyn Monroe had a file with the FBI. The Federal Bureau of Investigation kept a file on the famed superstar due to her relationship with the popular writer, Arthur Miller. Arthur Miller had communist inclinations and so she was suspected of having them too, as she had married him in 1956.

Marilyn Monroe famously gaved a sexy performance to then president, JFK. If the public did not already think the two were involved before, this turned up the heat. The two would be under intense speculation for decades to come.

Marilyn Monroe had over 400 books in her personal library, including several first editions. Once, director R.M. Rilke’s happened upon Marilyn reading a copy of Letters to a Young Poet. When asked how she chose it she gave a very charming reply.

Before her death, Marilyn Monroe made a pact with Joe DiMaggio that if she died before he did, that he would keep fresh flowers on her grave each week. Joe DiMaggio was true to his word, and had a half dozen red roses delivered three times a week to be sat outside her crypt for two decades.

According to actor Eli Wallach, Marilyn Monroe seemed to have a flip that she would flip on and off from “Marilyn” to (presumably) Norma Jean. He relayed a story of when he was walking on Broadway with Marilyn one night without being noticed, when she switched on, and became swarmed with fans.

In 1950, Marilyn Monroe had slight cosmetic surgery. She had a slight rhinoplasty (a nose job procedure). In it, she had her nose slightly lifted.

If Marilyn Monroe (also known as Norma Jean Baker) had gone with her first stage name, Jean Adair would be a household name. According to Marilyn Monroe’s sister, the choice of “Jean Adair” was a play off her real name.

Truman Capote reportedly wanted Marilyn Monroe first and foremost for the now iconic starring role in Breakfast At Tiffany’s. Marilyn even performed two scenes for Truman, who later said she was “terrifically good.”

Actor Don Murray worked with the blonde bombshell on the set of Bus Stop. Don noted that while Marilyn Monroe was undeniably talented in her acting skills, she could never fully relax in front of the camera.

Before makeup was applied, Marilyn had a small trick up her sleeve to ensure she had the optimal glow for her onscreen look. She would apply Nivea Creme or Vaseline, which would in turn make her appear more luminous on film.

If you didn’t guess from her marriage to writer Arthur Miller, Marilyn Monroe was attracted to intellects. Former roommate and fellow actress Shelley WInters said that she and Marilyn once made a list of men that they would like to sleep with, just for fun.

In 1954, Frank Sinatra and Joe DiMaggio were having dinner when a private investigator that was hired by Joe arrived. He told them that Marilyn was in a house nearby with another man right that second.

Marilyn Monroe was buried at Westwood Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles. Her ex-husband Joe DiMaggio was the original owner of the grave, but sold it when they divorced.

Marilyn Monroe’s idol was Jean Harlow, who was another blonde bombshell and Hollywood starlet who died young. Marilyn had been planning on creating a biopic of the deceased actress with her friend, Sidney Skolsky.

The marriage between Joe DiMaggio and Marilyn Monroe only lasted a mere 274 days. There were many factors that led to their demise, however the “subway scene” in The Seven Year Itch where Marilyn’s white dress flies up was the final straw.

Marilyn filed for divorce from Joe DiMaggio due to mental cruelty she says he inflicted upon her. In a twist of irony, the final straw of the infamous scene in The Seven Year Itch was not even used in the movie.