Did Marilyn Monroe’s Mother Try to Kill Her as a Child?

Marilyn Monroe’s life, marked by glamour and tragedy, is the focus of Netflix’s recent film “Blonde.”

Through the lens of fiction, it explores the tumultuous relationship between Monroe and her parents, showcasing how their dynamics influenced one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures.

In her early onscreen appearance, a young Monroe, portrayed by Ana de Armas, sings a heart-wrenching tune: “Every baby needs a da-da-daddy,” highlighting her deep-seated longing for parental love and stability.

This theme of vulnerability and trauma runs throughout “Blonde,” which director Andrew Dominik describes as a narrative shaped by “misguided childhood beliefs and emotional scars.”

Based on Joyce Carol Oates’ acclaimed novel, the film aims to resonate with anyone who has ever felt unloved.

The film introduces us to a seven-year-old Norma Jeane Baker, played by Lily Fisher, who grapples with the harsh realities of having a mentally unstable and alcoholic mother, Gladys.

In a startling portrayal, Gladys, depicted by Julianne Nicholson, engages in genuinely alarming behavior—threatening her young daughter’s safety in shocking and dangerous ways.

She seems to oscillate between loving intentions and reckless abandonment, leaving Monroe hanging in a fragile balance.

We learn that Monroe’s real-life mother wasn’t able to take care of her immediately after her birth, leaving Monroe at a foster home when she was just two weeks old.

Gladys had already experienced the pain of losing her older two children to an ex-husband and was desperate to keep her youngest around in some capacity.

Frequent visits and sleepovers became her way of connecting with Norma, but their bond was fraught with turmoil.

By the time Monroe reached the age of three, things took a darker turn.

Gladys allegedly attempted to forcibly retrieve her daughter from the foster home in a bizarre and unsettling episode.

She would ultimately regain custody of Norma when she was seven, but shortly thereafter, her mental health declined, leading to her institutionalization for paranoid schizophrenia.

As she moved through various foster homes and orphanages, Monroe’s childhood was riddled with distress and abuse.

It wasn’t until she was taken in by family friend Grace McKee Goddard at age eleven that she felt a sense of refuge.

Monroe reflects on this in her posthumous memoir, acknowledging the immense impact Grace had on her life, preventing her from the harsh realities of state institutions.

Monroe’s life changed dramatically at fifteen when her guardians planned a move to West Virginia.

Faced with a choice between marriage or returning to orphanage life, she quickly opted for marriage, tying the knot in 1942.

Although this decision brought an end to her status as a legal orphan, it also set in motion a series of events that would further complicate her already tumultuous existence.

When the time came to adopt a stage name, Norma Jeane selected “Monroe,” paying homage to her mother’s maiden name, though she initially kept other aspects of her past hidden.

She often lied about her family background in interviews, fabricating tales of a deceased mother and an absent father in Europe, which reflected her shame about her fractured family history.

As “Blonde” dives deeper into Monroe’s early years, it speculates about whether her mother ever attempted to kill her during childhood.

Although the film exaggerates for effect, some of Monroe’s former husbands claimed she spoke of these traumatic memories.

The narrative weaves through a troubling legacy not just from her mother but also from her grandmother, who allegedly posed a danger to Monroe as an infant, highlighting a family history steeped in mental health struggles.

The film depicts unnerving scenes that mimic allegations from Monroe’s life, including an incident where Gladys tries to drown young Monroe.

Critics point out that while these moments make for compelling cinema, they blur the lines between fiction and reality.

Official records offer no confirmation of such attempts on her life, yet Monroe herself maintained that her mother’s volatility posed a continuous threat during her formative years.

Ultimately, “Blonde” serves as a prism through which viewers can seek to understand the complexities of Monroe’s relationships, particularly with her mother.

While artistic liberties shape the narrative, they bring to the surface the uncomfortable truths of a childhood filled with both longing and neglect.

Ana de Armas, who portrays Monroe, captures the nuances of her deeply wounded character, intertwining personal trauma with the public persona that captivated the world.

In examining the life and legacy of Marilyn Monroe, the film echoes a universal theme of seeking love amidst chaos.

It reminds us that behind the glitz and glamour, there often exists a painful story, one that resonates with anyone who has struggled to find their place in a world fraught with complexities.

Marilyn Monroe‘s journey is a poignant reminder of how familial bonds can shape an individual’s identity, influencing both their aspirations and their ultimate fate.