The year 1955 represented a pivotal moment in the life and career of Marilyn Monroe. Making a bold move, she left Hollywood and the constraints of her studio contract with Twentieth Century Fox, relocating to New York City. This marked a period of intentional change, as she sought to redefine herself both personally and professionally, moving beyond the “dumb blonde” image often projected onto her. Photojournalist Ed Feingersh was given unique access to document parts of her new life during a week in the spring of that year.
A New Chapter in New York
Early 1955 saw Marilyn Monroe take decisive steps towards independence. She formed her own film production company, Marilyn Monroe Productions (MMP), in partnership with photographer Milton Greene. Making Manhattan her new base, she settled into a suite at the Ambassador Hotel. Initially, she embraced a degree of anonymity, exploring the city sometimes dressed down in casual attire and without makeup, wandering relatively unnoticed through its busy streets. This move signaled a break from the constant scrutiny and manufactured glamour of the Hollywood environment.
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Seeking Artistic Depth
Monroe’s relocation was deeply connected to her desire for artistic growth and recognition as a serious actress. In New York, she began studying diligently with famed acting coach Lee Strasberg at the prestigious Actors Studio. There, she immersed herself in learning “Method” acting, an approach that emphasized deep emotional understanding and psychological realism in performance. This pursuit of craft showed her determination to tackle more complex roles. Alongside her acting studies, Monroe also began undergoing psychoanalysis during this period, embarking on a journey of personal introspection.
Despite her initial efforts to maintain a lower profile, by March 1955, Monroe and Milton Greene recognized the need to actively shape her public image. Her declared ambition to be a “serious actress” had been met with skepticism and sometimes mockery in the press, with some predicting the end of her career as a leading sex symbol. To counter this narrative and showcase her new direction, plans were developed for a feature story in the widely read Redbook magazine. The article was intended to reveal “The Marilyn Monroe You’ve Never Seen.”
Ed Feingersh’s Assignment
While other photographers like Sam Shaw and Milton Greene were close associates, the task of creating the photo essay for the Redbook feature fell to photojournalist Ed Feingersh. For about a week in the spring of 1955, Feingersh followed Monroe closely as she navigated her New York life. He often worked alongside Robert Stein, the Redbook editor involved with the story, and sometimes members of Monroe’s small circle of business associates. Feingersh’s objective was to capture authentic moments reflecting Monroe’s experiences in her new city.
Ed Feingersh’s camera documented Marilyn Monroe in a variety of situations, many mundane yet revealing. He photographed her getting ready in her hotel suite – applying makeup, choosing clothes. He captured her dining in restaurants, shopping, waiting for subway trains, and moving through the city’s public spaces. The resulting images showed her both preparing her public face and in seemingly more private, unguarded moments – perhaps looking thoughtfully out a window or interacting casually with her surroundings.
