The World's Most Photographed: Marilyn Monroe

Series which unearths photographs previously lost or suppressed, to explore the power of the image and the nature of iconography. It decodes the carefully constructed public image of ten of the world's most photographed people to reveal more about the personalities, lives and intentions of the subjects. Marilyn Monroe is known primarily as a movie star, but she always preferred being photographed. Faced with the pressure and chaos of the film set, she was often anxious and full of self-doubt. One-on-one with a photographer, she felt at ease and in control. Whenever the pressures of Hollywood threatened to overwhelm her, she always turned to photographers for the reassurance and intimacy she craved. This film explores the ways in which Marilyn Monroe used photography to gain a sense of control over her life as well as furthering her career. episode 5