The Role That Almost Wasn't
The film was 1953’s Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and the role was that of the diamond-obsessed showgirl, Lorelei Lee. It was a part that would cement Monroe’s image as the quintessential “dumb blonde” while simultaneously showcasing her formidable comedic
talent and star power. The film's signature number, "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend," became one of the most imitated performances in pop culture history. But 20th Century-Fox, the studio behind the picture, originally had a very different star in mind for the part. The rights to the hit Broadway musical were purchased specifically as a vehicle for another actress entirely.
The Studio's Golden Girl
The actress the studio wanted was Betty Grable, the reigning queen of 20th Century-Fox and the most popular musical star of the 1940s. Grable was a box-office powerhouse, a reliable and bankable asset. Studio head Darryl F. Zanuck saw the film as a perfect fit for his established star. Marilyn Monroe, by contrast, was still seen as a risky, albeit promising, up-and-comer. Her recent performance in the noir thriller Niagara had generated significant buzz, proving she had sex appeal, but her reputation for being difficult on set and her burgeoning “dumb blonde” persona made executives nervous about handing her a leading role in such a major production. There was also a significant financial consideration: Grable was one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood, commanding a salary around $150,000 per film, while Monroe was on a weekly contract that amounted to a mere fraction of that, roughly $18,000 for the picture.
How Marilyn Won the Part
Ultimately, the decision came down to a classic Hollywood calculation: potential and price. While Betty Grable was the proven commodity, Monroe was the future. Her rising popularity after Niagara suggested she could appeal to both male and female audiences in a way that was new and exciting. The studio realized they had a “more potent and less expensive sex symbol” already under contract. Despite Zanuck's personal reservations, the financial logic was undeniable. To hedge their bets, the studio cast another established star, Jane Russell, as Monroe’s brunette sidekick, Dorothy Shaw, paying her a reported $200,000 to ensure the film had bankable star power. Monroe got the role of Lorelei Lee, but the vast pay disparity between her and her co-star was a stark reminder of her status in the studio hierarchy.
A Career-Defining Victory
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes was a massive box office success, becoming one of the highest-grossing films of the year and solidifying Monroe’s place as a top-tier Hollywood star. The chemistry between her and Jane Russell was electric, and Monroe’s performance was praised for its sharp comedic timing and undeniable charisma. She even reportedly improvised one of the film's most memorable lines: "I can be smart when it's important, but most men don't like it." Though the role further typecast her, it also proved she was more than just a pin-up; she was a bona fide movie star capable of carrying a major picture. The success gave her leverage, which she would later use to fight for more creative control, including director and script approval, and to pursue training as a serious actress at the Actors Studio in New York.
