Marilyn Monroe is one of the most iconic and influential actresses of all time, known for her beauty, charisma, and tragic life. Maika Monroe is a rising star in Hollywood, who has appeared in several horror and thriller films, as well as dramas and comedies. Both actresses share the same surname, but are they related in any way? The answer might surprise you.
Contents
Maika Monroe’s Real Name and Background
Maika Monroe was born on May 29, 1993, in Santa Barbara, California. Her birth name was Dillon Monroe Buckley, but she later changed it to Maika, a name that she liked since childhood. Her mother had a close friend named Maika, and she thought it suited her better than Dillon. She legally changed her name to Maika Monroe when she was 18 years old.
Maika’s parents are Jack and Dixie Buckley. Her father was a construction worker and her mother was a sign language interpreter. Maika grew up with a passion for kiteboarding, a sport that involves riding a board while being pulled by a kite. She started kiteboarding when she was 13 years old, following in her father’s footsteps. She moved to the Dominican Republic in her senior year of high school to train full-time, while completing her studies online. She became a professional kiteboarder and competed in several international events.
Marilyn Monroe’s Real Name and Background
Marilyn Monroe was born on June 1, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Her birth name was Norma Jeane Mortenson, but she was later baptized as Norma Jeane Baker, using her mother’s maiden name. Her father’s identity is unknown, and her mother, Gladys Pearl Baker, suffered from mental illness and was unable to take care of her. Marilyn spent most of her childhood in foster homes and orphanages, where she faced abuse and neglect.
Marilyn married her first husband, James Dougherty, when she was 16 years old, to avoid being sent back to the orphanage. She worked in a munitions factory during World War II, where she was discovered by a photographer who encouraged her to pursue a modeling career. She dyed her hair blonde and changed her name to Marilyn Monroe, inspired by the actress Marilyn Miller and her mother’s maiden name. She signed a contract with 20th Century Fox in 1946 and began appearing in minor film roles.
The Rise and Fall of Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe became a star in the early 1950s, after starring in several successful films that showcased her sex appeal and comedic talent. Some of her most famous films include Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1953), How to Marry a Millionaire (1953), The Seven Year Itch (1955), Bus Stop (1956), Some Like It Hot (1959), and The Misfits (1961). She also posed nude for the first issue of Playboy magazine in 1953, which boosted her popularity and controversy.
Marilyn Monroe struggled with fame, insecurity, addiction, and depression throughout her career. She had three marriages that ended in divorce: to James Dougherty (1942-1946), to baseball legend Joe DiMaggio (1954-1955), and to playwright Arthur Miller (1956-1961). She also had several affairs with famous men, including President John F. Kennedy and his brother Robert F. Kennedy. She suffered from miscarriages and abortions, and attempted suicide several times.
Marilyn Monroe died on August 4, 1962, at the age of 36, from an overdose of barbiturates. Her death was ruled as a probable suicide, but some conspiracy theories suggest that she was murdered or involved in a cover-up. Her funeral was attended by thousands of fans and celebrities, and she was buried at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery in Los Angeles.
The Career and Life of Maika Monroe
Maika Monroe made her film debut in 2012, in the drama At Any Price, opposite Zac Efron and Dennis Quaid. She gained recognition for her role as Jay Height in the horror film It Follows (2014), which received critical acclaim and became a cult hit. She also starred as Anna Peterson in the thriller The Guest (2014), which earned her praise for her performance.
Maika Monroe continued to work in various genres of films, such as the sci-fi action film The 5th Wave (2016), the disaster film Independence Day: Resurgence (2016), the coming-of-age drama Hot Summer Nights (2017), the biographical drama I’m Not Here (2017), the sci-fi thriller Tau (2018), the psychological thriller Greta (2018), the comedy-drama After Everything (2018), the crime comedy Villains (2019), and the drama Honey Boy (2019).
Maika Monroe is also a producer and a voice actress. She produced and starred in the short film How to Be Alone (2019), and voiced Snow White in the animated series JJ Villard’s Fairy Tales (2020). She also appeared in the Quibi series The Stranger (2020), and the Netflix film The Education of Fredrick Fitzell (2020). She has several upcoming projects, such as the horror film Longlegs, the drama In Cold Light, and the thriller God Is a Bullet.
Maika Monroe is in a relationship with actor Joe Keery, who is best known for his role as Steve Harrington in the Netflix series Stranger Things. The couple met on the set of After Everything in 2017, and have been dating since then. They often share pictures of each other on their social media accounts, and attend events together.
The Verdict: Are Maika Monroe and Marilyn Monroe Related?
The answer is no, Maika Monroe and Marilyn Monroe are not related by blood or by marriage. They just happen to share the same surname, which they both chose for themselves. They also have different backgrounds, personalities, and careers. However, they do have some similarities, such as their blonde hair, blue eyes, and beauty. They are both talented actresses who have made their mark in Hollywood. They are both icons in their own right.
