Published shortly before what would have been Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday, the article revisits the actress through the memories of friends, collaborators and contemporaries who knew her personally.

Rather than focusing on the long-standing myths surrounding her death or romantic relationships, the piece presents Monroe as a thoughtful, funny and emotionally generous woman whose friendships shaped much of her private life.

The article draws on interviews conducted for a radio documentary and highlights the large number of people who still remember Monroe fondly more than six decades after her death.

Amy Greene, widow of photographer Milton Greene and a close friend of Monroe, describes her as loyal and trustworthy during the years they shared a home while building Marilyn Monroe Productions.

The article also examines Monroe’s strong relationships with women in Hollywood, including Jane Russell, with whom she starred in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and Mamie Van Doren, who empathised with the pressures Monroe faced within the male-dominated studio system.

Several male collaborators are also featured, including photographer Lawrence Schiller and photographer Sam Shaw, both of whom admired Monroe’s artistic intelligence and understanding of photography.Shaw’s daughter recalls Monroe’s warmth with children and her ability to adapt naturally to different social situations.The article challenges the popular image of Monroe as merely a tragic sex symbol defined by failed romances and personal sadness.

Instead, those closest to her remember a creative, intellectually curious woman who valued friendship, artistic collaboration and emotional connection.Their recollections present a more complex and humane portrait of Monroe than the one often promoted by tabloids and celebrity mythology.