Marilyn Monroe spent four transformative days in New York City in 1955, a time that marked a major shift in her career. After leaving Hollywood and walking away from her contract with Twentieth Century Fox, she was determined to take control of her image. She moved into the Ambassador Hotel and formed her own production company with photographer Milton Greene.
For a while, Marilyn avoided the spotlight. She dressed casually, often without makeup, and roamed the city without being recognized. She spent hours at the Actor’s Studio, learning method acting under Lee Strasberg. At the same time, she started psychoanalysis, hoping to better understand herself and her craft.
By March, both Marilyn and Greene realized she needed a publicity boost. Many in the press doubted her decision to pursue serious acting, calling it career suicide. To counter this, plans were made for a feature in ‘Redbook’ magazine. The details of how the opportunity came about are unclear. Some say it was Greene’s idea, while others credit photographer Sam Shaw. Either way, one of Shaw’s portraits of Marilyn ended up on the July 1955 cover.Â
Photojournalist Ed Feingersh was assigned to document Marilyn’s life for the feature. Over four days, he followed her everywhere, capturing a side of her the public rarely saw. His lens caught Marilyn shopping for perfume, getting ready in front of a mirror, and dining at fashionable restaurants. He photographed her wrapped in a white robe, lost in thought, and walking the city streets, blending in yet standing out.
These photographs show a Marilyn Monroe different from the Hollywood starlet. She was still beautiful and glamorous, but also introspective and in control. These few days in New York were a turning point—she wasn’t just a movie star anymore. She was an artist, shaping her own future.
