When five-time Pulitzer Prize nominee Joyce Carol Oates discovered a blurry picture of American actress Marilyn Monroe at 15 years old, smiling radiantly into the camera, she had one thought.
Click start to play today’s Crossword, which gets you thinking about book titles or characters that begin with “B”.
In a 2020 article in US-based magazine Vanity Fair, Oates said that she thought Monroe looked like the girls she went to school with – bright-eyed and innocent. The picture was a far cry from the sultry icon who hid her depression behind a bubbly persona.
So, Oates decided to write a fictionalised book about her, capturing the real woman behind the star – the one with fears, hopes, sorrows and dreams. Many think the acclaimed novel showcases a truer portrait of the star than any other work featuring her. Released in 2000, the book was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. Can you guess the title in 12-Across? Hint: It starts with “B”!
Despite appearances, Monroe was not born with a silver spoon in her mouth. In fact, it was quite the opposite.
Monroe – whose real name was Norma Jeane Baker – had an exceptionally hard life growing up. When she was two weeks old, she was sent to live in a foster home, since her mother was hospitalised due to mental health issues. All through her childhood, she had 11 foster parents.
As an adult, she went through difficult periods that led to depression and repeated suicide attempts. Monroe experienced three failed marriages, lost babies in miscarriages and used dangerous prescription drugs to cope with her mental health issues.
Moreover, at the height of her fame, and despite being one of the best-known actresses in Hollywood, Monroe was paid a fraction of what her contemporaries, like Elizabeth Taylor, made. For her last film, Something’s Gotta Give, her salary was $100,000, while Taylor received $1 million for Cleopatra around the same time.
Monroe was only 36 when she died from a possible suicide. But despite the tragedies in her personal life, she endeared herself to fans around the world with her gentle demeanour, soft voice and memorable smile.
Have you watched any of her popular films? Play today’s Crossword and let us know at games@gulfnews.com.
