Marilyn Monroe Handwritten Character Study Note on Marilyn Monroe Miller Stationery
From the Personal Files of Marilyn Monroe: This handwritten pencil note was written on stationery monogrammed “MMM,” representing the name Marilyn Monroe Miller, which she used during her marriage to Arthur Miller. The document dates broadly from the late 1950s into the early 1960s, when Monroe was actively studying Method acting.
Written in the first person, the text outlines details of a character’s background, including references to family history and upbringing. Several revisions and crossed out passages indicate that Monroe was actively shaping the wording as she worked.
Such exercises were commonly used in Method training environments, including at the Actors Studio, where performers developed character histories and internal motivations as part of scene preparation.
Preserved among Monroe’s personal papers, the note provides direct evidence of her practical engagement with acting technique during a sustained period of professional study.
Below: Marilyn at the Actors Studio
Collector’s Note
As a collector, I find working notes like this especially informative because they show Marilyn Monroe approaching acting as a disciplined process.
This page reflects the kind of character analysis encouraged during her years of study. It shows her constructing biography, testing language, and revising ideas in real time rather than presenting a finished performance.
What stands out is the use of stationery bearing the initials MMM, placing the artifact in time when she was Marilyn Monroe Miller.
Documents like this help shift attention from the image Marilyn projected to the effort she invested in developing craft. They provide practical evidence of study, preparation, and intention.
Scott Fortner
Marilyn Monroe Collection
Founder & Owner
@mariylnmonroecollection 
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