20 Actresses Who've Played Marilyn Monroe on Film and on TV

The pop culture icon’s life has been documented from childhood to death and many memorable moments in between

Misty Rowe  •  (1976)  “Goodbye, Norma Jean”  Young actress Misty Rowe played Monroe (née Norma Jean Baker) in this 1976 biopic.

Tracey Gold  •  (1980)  “Marilyn: The Untold Story”   Yes, the “Growing Pains” star played a young Marilyn in this TV movie.

Catherine Hicks  •  (1980)  “Marilyn: The Untold Story” And Catherine Hicks, best known as the mom in “Seventh Heaven,” played an older Marilyn. 

Madonna  •  (1984)  “Material Girl”  The pop star channeled Marilyn in the classic music video for her 1984 hit, which was an homage to the actress’ “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” routine in “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.”

Theresa Russell  •  (1985)  “Insignificance” Russell played Monroe in a film that imagined the actress meeting up with Albert Einstein, Joe DiMaggio and Senator Joseph MacCarthy. 

Paula Lane  •  (1989)  “Good Night, Sweet Marilyn”This biopic features Paula Lane as Marilyn — but also flashbacks to a young Norma Jean that are clips from “Goodbye, Norma Jean.”

Susan Griffiths  •  (1991) “Marilyn and Me”; (1993) “Quantum Leap”; (1994) “Pulp Fiction”; (1997) “Dark Skies”; (1997) “Timecop” and many more  In the 1990s, Susan Griffiths made a career as a serial Monroe impersonator. 

Melody Anderson  •  (1993)  “Marilyn & Bobby: Her Final Affair”  This TV movie imagines the actress’ romantic fling with Bobby Kennedy 

Mira Sorvino  •  (1996)  “Norma Jean & Marilyn” Oscar winner Mira Sorvino played the legend in this 1996 movie.

Ashley Judd  •  (1996)  “Norma Jean & Marilyn”  Ashley Judd played the pre-fame Norma Jean in the same film.

Barbara Niven  •  (1998)  “Rat Pack”  Niven plays opposite Ray Liotta as Frank Sinatra, Joe Montegna as Dean Martin and Don Cheadle as Sammy Davis Jr. in this HBO film.

Poppy Montgomery  •  (2001)  “Blonde”  Poppy Montgomery starred in this fictionalized biopic based on Joyce Carol Oates’ novel

Charlotte Sullivan  •  (2011)  “The Kennedys”   

Michelle Williams  •  (2011)  “My Week With Marilyn”  Williams earned an Oscar nomination for her role — as did Kenneth Branagh as Laurence Olivier trying to wrangle the star in a film he’s directing.

Blake Lively  •  (2012)  “Gossip Girl”  Naturally, “Gossip Girl”‘s resident blonde decked herself out as Marilyn.

Uma Thurman  •  (2012)  “Smash”  The short-lived NBC series about the making of a Broadway musical about Monroe featured multiple iterations of the star, including Uma Thurman.

Megan Hilty  •  (2012)  “Smash”  Broadway veteran Megan Hilty also angled for the plum role in the show-within-a-show.

Katharine McPhee  •  (2012)  “Smash”  The “American Idol” alum played a Broadway newbie whose raw talent made her a contender for the lead role.

Kelli Garner  •  (2015)  “The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe”  Garner starred opposite Susan Sarandon in this Lifetime miniseries. 

Ana de Armas  •  (2021)  “Blonde”  The “Knives Out” star is the latest to play Monroe, in an updated version of Oates’ fictionalized biography “Blonde.”
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