Actress Marilyn Monroe, the American sex symbol of the 1950s, had her way paved by the great Jean Harlow, the American sex symbol of the 1930s. They both made super stardom history, branding the short, blonde hair look, but apart from their looks, Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe’s lives mirrored the other. Here are 6 things Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe had in common:
Both Monroe and Harlow had their first entertainment gigs at a young age. Monroe was 19 when she signed her first modeling contract and Harlow was 18 when she got her first acting job.
But only one of them is a natural blonde! Jean Harlow is a natural blond and Monroe is a natural brunette. As Monroe was launching her career, she dyed her hair blonde, reminiscent of Harlow’s signature haircut. She even went to the same stylist as Harlow!
Monroe and Harlow had both been married more than once. Both the stars had marriages that lasted around or under a year, Harlow to Hal Rosson, a camera man on many of her films, which lasted seven months and Monroe to Joe DiMaggio, a New York Yankee baseball player, which lasted just about a year. Additionally, they both had their first marriages around the age of 16.
Jean Harlow was a superstar at MGM and often outranked her fellow female actresses of the time. During Monroe’s second year with Fox, she became the top-billed actress.
Both Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe were not just movie stars, they were sex symbols. Jean Harlow has been quoted saying, “My God, must I always wear a low-cut dress to be important?”
Jean Harlow had complications with her kidneys towards the end of her life, but it is said that her excessive and heavy drinking threw her body through a loop, breaking her down towards the end of her life. She died at the age of 26. Marilyn was found dead in her bed with a bottle of pills next to her at the age of 36. Her death was ruled as an overdose.
Between Jean Harlow and Marilyn Monroe, which superstar is your favorite?
