The American actress and model, Marilyn Monroe achieved such fame in her lifetime, that even though it has been more than six decades since her death, the world is still obsessed with her. Thus, it is certainly easy to understand what sort of impact the blonde bombshell might have had during her prime years in the entertainment industry.
Following the release of filmmaker Elia Kazan’s private letters, it was revealed how Marilyn Monroe had a secret affair with him while being married to Joe DiMaggio. Being the most desired woman of her era, Monroe certainly enjoyed a lush life filled with lovers and suitors. However, her romance with Kazan seemed different since the filmmaker was overly fascinated by the actress’ difficult past.
Marilyn Monroe’s Secret Affair With Elia Kazan
Being a trendsetter and a s*x symbol of the 1950s Marilyn Monroe became a major icon of pop culture, following her appearance in the Playboy magazine covers. Creating mega-successful blockbusters that even grossed $200M in that era, Monroe became an idol in the industry who is still talked about. However, nothing compares to her tabloid-laden love life, which still remains a topic of gossip.
While Marilyn Monroe had several affairs and romantic associations with celebrities and famous personalities, the actress only married thrice. However, while being married to her second husband Joe DiMaggio for 8 months, the actress engaged in a secret affair with filmmaker Elia Kazan. Although the affair was successfully kept a secret, it was revealed after Kazan confessed about his affair with Monroe, to his wife, in 1955, through private letters.
Expressing his tender and tough love for the blond actress, Elia Kazan confessed to his wife, “the reason I can’t write you about what I’m ashamed of is because I’m ashamed of it. I’m ashamed I hurt you ever.” Further discussing how his association started after they met on Harmon Jones’ set, Kazan revealed that although he tried to maintain his distance, he got helplessly attracted to her misery.
Elia Kazan Was Fascinated By Marilyn Monroe’s Past
Discussing his relationship with Marilyn Monroe through a letter to his wife, Elia Kazan opened up about how he initially tried to refrain himself by noticing her worst aspects. “I took her to dinner because she seemed like such a touching pathetic waif. She sobbed all thru dinner. I wasn’t ‘interested in her’.” Kazan wrote.
However, eventually, just like every other person, even the filmmaker fell for Monroe. Failing to keep himself away from the blond actress, Kazan mentioned being touched by her broken heart. Stating how her difficult past attracted him, the filmmaker wrote, “you couldn’t help being touched. She was talented, funny, vulnerable, helpless in awful pain…She was like all Charlie Chaplin’s heroines in one.”
Elia Kazan further wrote blatantly “I’m not ashamed at all, not a damn bit, of having been attracted to her.” Diving into the details, the filmmaker started pointing out everything that attracted him towards Monroe. “She is not a big s*x pot as advertised. At least not in my experience…I was touched and fascinated. It was the type of experience that I do not understand and I enjoyed.” Finally, apologizing to his wife, Kazan ended his letter and confessed his love for Marilyn Monroe.
Source: The Hollywood Reporter
