„I just want to be wonderful“

"Happy Birthday, Mr. President," Marilyn sings softly into the microphone, triggering a frenzy of excitement. This famous performance on John F. Kennedy’s birthday fits perfectly with the image that has always been painted of the movie star: that she was rather naive, a bit ditzy, and incredibly sexy. A few months later, at just 36 years old, Norma Jean Baker—the famous actress’s real name—dies. Legends still surround her death to this day; even her body is photographed, and the photos are published. Images of her can be found in art galleries and on Pop Art posters; her clothing and poses serve as inspiration for ever-new generations and interpretations. To this day, Marilyn Monroe is celebrated for her beauty, her charisma, and her sex appeal. If you look behind the blonde facade, you see a woman who is almost suffocated by her public image. A woman who, to counteract this, constantly educated herself, took acting lessons, wrote poetry, and desperately tried by every means to be taken seriously as an artist, all while spending her entire life searching for love and recognition.

In “I Just Want to Be Wonderful,” director Malin Lamparter and her team explore the figure of Marilyn Monroe and the person Norma Jean Baker, tracing the life and (lasting) impact of the iconic film star. Together, we’ll celebrate Marilyn Monroe’s 100th birthday in a way befitting this Hollywood icon.