A phenomenon the likes of which comes only once or twice in a century, Marilyn Monroe has without a doubt defined what it means to be a blonde both during her short career and since her untimely sudden demise.

Born as Norma Jean Mortensen on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California, she died of a drug overdose again in the same city, on August 5, 1962. She has become a mythical icon like Elvis since then.

Even today quite a few female stars are compared with MM to underscore their beauty. The non-blonde Italian diva Sophia Loren earned the moniker Italian Marilyn Monroe thanks to her Marilyn-like sex appeal.

Monroe appeared in only 31 films but left behind dozens of unforgettable scenes starting with The Asphalt Jungle (1950). Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), There's No Business Like Show Business (1954), and Monkey Business (1952) are some of her better known works.

But probably Monroes reached the zenith of her career with the following 3 films: The Seven Year Itch (1955) (remember the skirts-up scene over the air grill?), Some Like It Hot (1959), and The Misfits (1961).

Never nominated for any Oscars, she is still more popular today and more a part of the popular culture than many actors who have won the prestigious prize.

Did you know these trivia facts about Marilyn Monroe?

1. In 1947 she won the Miss California Artichoke Queen beauty pageant.

2. She was on the cover of the Playboy magazine in 1953 and a Playboy Playmate for the December 1963 issue. Playboy owner Hugh Hefner purchased the vault right next to hers in order to be buried next to the one and only Marilyn.

3. She had a global reputation as a "blonde bombshell" but her natural hair color was brunette and (a good reader) she wore prescription glasses in private.

4. In a 1999 auction, her make-up kit brought a whopping $266,500.

5. For her first film Scudda Hoo! Scudda Hay! (1948) she was paid $75 a week. For the Misfits (1961), she was paid a very respectable $250,000.