She had made new friends in photographer Milton Greene and Actor’s Studio guru Lee Strasberg. They gave her a new perception of herself and believed
in her talent but most of all gave her the respect that Hollywood never did. As Marilyn took to New York like a fish to water and studied acting with
Strasberg at his studio, Fox feared that they may have lost their hottest asset, with no new Monroe films in the pipeline and no sign of Marilyn’s return.
Fox soon negotiated a new deal with Marilyn as she set up her own production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions. In a tv interview Marilyn would
discuss her disenchantment with her work up ‘til now and how she hoped to change it, and how much she loved her ‘‘new’’ life in New York. After her year
at Strasberg’s Actor’s Studio Marilyn returned to Fox to film ‘Bus Stop’. The film won Marilyn some of the best reviews of her entire career, with director
Joshua Logan saying “Monroe is as near genius as any actress I ever knew.” Marilyn shocked the world when it was discovered that she was involved with
playwright, Arthur Miller. They had secretly dated for a year as Miller was married. When his divorce was granted in the middle of June 1956, he
announced his forthcoming wedding to Marilyn, and the story broke in the press that they would marry before she traveled to England to film ‘The
Sleeping Prince.’ As the pair were barraged with reporters, a female reporter from Paris Match was accidentally killed in pursuit of them so they decided
to put the spectacle to rest and were married in two ceremonies, one civil and one Jewish on 29 June and July 1. Marilyn and Arthur then went to England
to begin filming ‘The Prince And The Showgirl,’ as it was now called, with Sir Laurence Olivier. Marilyn would produce the film and Olivier would direct.
The pair battled on the set and critics would say that Marilyn stole every scene from the great Olivier. During filming Marilyn dissolved her relationship
with partner Milton Greene as Miller took control of her business affairs. The film would do poorly at the box-office. Anxious to create a real family,
Marilyn took time off from acting during 1957/58 and focused on trying to have a baby, which was her greatest desire. The Miller’s moved into relative
obscurity. After suffering an ectopic pregnancy, Marilyn was urged to return to work - the Miller’s needed the money.
She accepted the role of Sugar Kane in ‘Some Like It Hot.’ As filming wrapped, Marilyn miscarried yet again. The film would become one of the biggest
hits of 1959 and the second biggest box-office hit of her entire career. Marilyn’s next venture would not fair so well. Back at Fox for the first time since
‘Bus Stop,’ she began filming ‘Let’s Make Love’ with Yves Montand. Marilyn’s marriage to Miller was beginning to fall apart and she embarked on an affair
with her French co-star. It was a disaster for Marilyn as Yves finished it when filming wrapped. Despite media interest in the carrying-on of the two stars,
the film was a flop. As filming on ‘Let’s Make Love’ finished, Marilyn, without little time off went on to make possibly her most ambitious project yet.
Written by Arthur as a gift to Marilyn, ‘The Misfits’ starred her childhood idol Clark Gable, Montgomery Clift and Eli Wallach. It was the closest Marilyn
came to playing herself on the screen. Clark Gable would die of a massive heart attack ten days after filming his final scene. The film was not a hit at the
box-office, but many film scholars regard it as one of the finest American films ever made. The strain of making the picture turned out to be the death of
the Miller's marriage as well. They divorced in early 1961. Marilyn suffered a difficult year, spending time in hospital for a “rest,” and then gallbladder
surgery in June. She made very few public appearances during the rest of the year but renewed her friendship with Joe DiMaggio. In early 1962, Marilyn
bought a modest home in Brentwood. She went to Mexico and bought some furnishings. She started another film for Fox in the spring, ‘Something’s Got
To Give.’ Marilyn was frequently absent on the set due to sinusitis. Fox’s financial state was in near bankruptcy as filming of ‘Cleopatra’ in Rome was well
over budget and showing no signs of ending. With all other films cancelled Fox kept Marilyn’s picture running in hope that they could have another hit
and reap the rewards they so desperately needed. Marilyn looked fit and had lost 15lbs for the film and did a nude bathing scene, the first by a major star
in an American film. With the film now weeks behind schedule, she flew to New York to perform for President Kennedy's birthday Gala on May 19, 1962.
The people at Fox didn't take it well. On her return to LA, she fell ill again. Frustrated, Fox fired Marilyn shortly after her 36th birthday, her last day on
the set. It was a blow to Marilyn but she kept herself involved in other projects. As before she was able to negotiate a new deal with Fox and on August 1,
she signed a $1 million two-picture deal. Filming was to resume towards the end of October. On August 4, 1962, Marilyn died in her home of a drug
overdose. Her death remains a question to this day. She was laid to rest in a small private ceremony at Westwood Memorial Park.
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