(Kelli Garner as Marilyn
Monroe)
The Secret Life of
Marilyn Monroe – which uncovers many closely-guarded secrets the blonde
bombshell kept from the public – premieres on Lifetime (DStv channel 131) tomorrow
(August 9) at 20h00.
The all-star cast in the critically acclaimed two-part
mini-series includes Kelli Garner in the title role; Susan Sarandon as
Marilyn’s biggest secret of all, her mother Gladys; Emily Watson; Embeth
Davidtz and Jeffrey Dean Morgan. Sarandon’s daughter Eva Amurri Martino plays
Gladys in her youth.
Based on J Randy Taraborrelli’s New York Times bestseller of
the same name, The Secret Life of Marilyn
Monroe begins with a portrait of a young Norma Jeane Mortenson as she
battles a lonely and loveless existence with an absent mother. Despite the
odds, Norma Jeane blossoms into a funny, smart and ambitious woman and soon
reinvents herself to become the symbol of an era. Although her movie studio
told the world that Marilyn's mother was dead, it is the great secret of
Marilyn’s life that Gladys remained a vital and troubling part of her world.
The outside world never truly sees or understands the real
Marilyn, a woman so different from her public persona. As her fame grows, all
three of her marriages crumble beneath her quite publicly, including those with
Joe DiMaggio (Morgan) and Arthur Miller (Stephen Bogaert) while she has an
unhealthy obsession with President John F Kennedy.
Produced by Asylum Entertainment, The Secret Life of Marilyn Monroe is executive produced by Jonathan
Koch and Steve Michaels (The Kennedys),
Keri Selig (The Stepford Wives) of
Intuition Productions, and Stephen Kronish (24), who wrote the screenplay. The
miniseries is directed by Laurie Collyer (Sherrybaby).
The Secret Life of
Marilyn Monroe airs on Lifetime (DStv channel 131) tomorrow (August 9) at
20h00 with the second instalment on August 16 at 20h00.
Posts
