By BrainFall Staff - Updated: April 2, 2024
This quiz is meant to test your knowledge of Marilyn Monroe. But, did you know she was more than just an airy and pretty Hollywood icon? She was known for being whip-smart, and that showed in how she conducted herself during her lifetime.
Learn more about the fascinating starlet below, and then take our quiz to determine your own Marilyn Monroe IQ!
The Blonde Bombshell’s Brainpower Revealed
Marilyn Monroe: the Hollywood legend, the quintessential sex symbol, the blonde bombshell who seemed to define an era. Your curiosity about her extends beyond the silver screen, doesn’t it? Rumors flutter like sheets of gossip column newsprint in the wind—you’ve heard whispers claiming that Monroe had an IQ of 168. That’s right, higher than your average game show contestant, and supposedly up there with the Einsteins of the world.
But, before you start imagining Marilyn acing a Mensa test between takes, let’s untangle fact from fiction. The anecdotes of her intelligence may tickle your fancy, but actual proof of Monroe ever taking an IQ test is about as substantial as the fabric on one of her iconic dresses. No recorded scores, no certificates stashed in a studio lot—just a trail of hearsay that would leave even the best detective scratching their head. So, take a seat, make yourself comfortable, and let’s dive into the mythos surrounding Marilyn Monroe’s IQ—no guarantees you won’t end up more puzzled than you started.
Monroe’s Intellectual Pursuits
Before you dive into the myths of Marilyn Monroe’s intellect, let’s unpack the truth about her educational background and the range of her cultural interests.
Academic Achievements and Education
Marilyn Monroe, your quintessential 1950s screen siren, may have been more known for her sultry looks and glamorous lifestyle, but her academic journey was as twisty as a Hollywood thriller. While Marilyn never claimed the mantle of valedictorian, and rumors about a sky-high IQ of 168 are as shaky as a house of cards, this doesn’t mean her intellectual light was dim.
- High School: Monroe, born Norma Jeane Mortenson, attended Van Nuys High School but left before graduation. Yet, don’t let the lack of a cap and gown fool you; the halls of high school are hardly the only place to grab some smarts.
- Acting Studies: Studying under Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio, she showed a genuine hunger for honing her craft, suggesting there’s a bright bulb flickering above that blonde bombshell head of hers.
Cultural and Intellectual Interests
Now, let’s shimmy over to the more scintillating stuff — Marilyn’s eclectic personal tastes. She wasn’t just any run-of-the-mill Hollywood starlet; Marilyn was the girl with a stack of books as high as her heel collection.
- Personal Library: Marilyn possessed a personal library with over 400 volumes, brimming with literature, art, theology, poetry, and philosophy. Clearly, she wasn’t just rehearsing lines but also devouring the lines of great thinkers.
- Art and Philosophy: Her breadth of reading was impressive, dipping her toes in everything from the sensitive whispers of poetry to the sturdy debates of philosophy. Marilyn was the mixologist of Monroe martinis, where art meets intellect.
So, while the golden curls may have been headlining on billboards, it was Marilyn’s mind that danced off the pages of her well-thumbed books. Evidently, she had an appetite for learning that could rival her gusto for the spotlight, and that’s no joke, even if you chuckled a bit while reading this.
Marilyn and the Myth
Your favorite blonde bombshell, Marilyn Monroe – an enigma wrapped in a white dress over a subway grate. Did her brain match her beauty, or is this another Hollywood tall tale?
Beauty and the Brain: Challenging Stereotypes
You’ve seen her light up the screen in Some Like It Hot and break hearts in The Prince and the Showgirl. Yet, the Hollywood studio system often shoved Marilyn into the “dumb blonde” box. But surprise, surprise – some say Marilyn had the last laugh with an IQ rumored to be 168. Truth or fiction? You tell me. While rumors about Norma Jeane Mortenson’s (aka Marilyn Monroe’s) smarts made for juicy gossip, hard evidence of her ever being tested remains as elusive as her private life.
The Legacy and Legends
Marilyn’s legacy isn’t just in her films like Niagara, but also in the stories that bloomed after her untimely death. Did she overdose or was it suicide, or perhaps one of those conspiracy theories you hear in a dark, smoky room is true? Let’s not forget the whispers about her supposed intellectual showdown with Einstein. Scott Fortner from marilynmonroecollection.com might raise his eyebrows at that. He’s the keeper of her flame, suggesting those IQ test claims are about as solid as her public persona—complicated, strong, yet sensitive. Monroe, your legacy is as much a pop culture icon as it is a battleground of myth and stereotype.
Quiz time!
Seldom in history does one person come along who can compel the entire world to love them. Marilyn Monroe — model, actress, singer, lover, wife — had something the cameras loved and few could resist. Gone too soon, but what a legacy! How well do you know her? Find out here!