I thought I’d be in and out of the National Portrait Gallery Marilyn Monroe exhibition in twenty minutes.
How wrong I was.
This was a woman who absolutely loved the camera. And it would be fair to say that plenty of cameras felt the same way about her.
The Perfect Shot
One of the most fascinating aspects of the Marilyn Monroe exhibition is seeing how preoccupied she was with her self-image. She would painstakingly review dozens of photographs, searching for the perfect shot and rejecting anything that showed the slightest flaw. No spinach in the teeth. No unfortunate angle. No hint of a double chin.
We even see photographs of Marilyn studying the photographs.
The most ridiculous image was a seemingly candid shot of her sitting in a park reading the final chapter of James Joyce’s Ulysses.
Come on.
Ulysses. The final chapter.
Show me the person who has read the final chapter of any James Joyce novel.
The Regent Street Cinema on a Monday does a senior screening of Film Classics, including many films with Marilyn Monroe. Find out how to get cheap cinema tickets in this article on Luxury London Cinemas on the Cheap.
Marilyn Monroe, the Performer
An early series of photographs taken on a beach demonstrates just how instinctively she understood the camera. Within minutes, she conveys every emotion imaginable: joy, sorrow, anger and despair.
For death, she pulls a blanket over her head.
It sounds ridiculous, yet somehow it works.
This was a woman who could tell a complete story with a single expression.
After the Marilyn Monroe exhibition, consider exploring London with the guide of 20 Free Things to do in London (or Nearly Free) That You’ll Love.
Everything You’d Hope to See
The National Portrait Gallery Marilyn Monroe exhibition is beautifully curated and contains pretty much everything a Marilyn fan could wish for.
There are clips from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, Andy Warhol’s iconic Pop Art screen prints, and the famous footage of the New York subway air vent sending her white dress billowing into the air.
There are also some unexpected treasures, including Salvador Dalí and Philippe Halsman’s extraordinary 1952 portrait depicting Marilyn as Chairman Mao Zedong.
As you move through the exhibition, you can almost watch her confidence growing. With every photograph, painting, and film clip, she becomes more self-assured, aided by the gods of silver lamé dresses, five-inch stilettos, peroxide-blonde hair, red lipstick, and, of course, a discreet nose job.
The Cost of Becoming Marilyn
After a brisk thirty-minute sprint around the National Portrait Gallery Marilyn Monroe exhibition (I was due at one of my clubs for dinner), I reached the room dealing with Marilyn’s death.
In truth, you should allow at least an hour, preferably ninety minutes.
I found myself coming to a complete halt.
The exhibition subtly reveals the price she paid for becoming Marilyn Monroe. It was as though she had spent her short life turning herself into public property. Every smile, every expression, every sequin and every carefully posed photograph belonged to somebody else: managers, lovers, photographers, women who wanted to be her and men who wanted to possess her.
By the end, all that remained was the fragile woman underneath.
And a bottle of tablets.
Luxe on Less Tip: Cheap Tickets for the National Portrait Gallery Marilyn Monroe Exhibition
But this wouldn’t be Luxe on Less London without a money-saving tip.
On Mondays between 10.30 am and 2 pm, the National Portrait Gallery operates a “Pay What You Can” scheme for this exhibition (subject to availability). Whether you choose to pay £2, £5, or £10 is entirely up to you.
I’d suggest arriving early, as you may be asked to return later if the session is busy.
There are also concessionary tickets available, including discounted admission for students and selected benefit recipients, but the Monday offer is by far the best value. The usual price is £27.50 (with a £2 voluntary donation).
For anyone with even a passing interest in Marilyn Monroe, photography, Hollywood or celebrity culture, it’s money very well spent.
Find out more about the National Gallery Marilyn Monroe: A Portrait on the museum website.
