Marilyn Monroe's letter describing her quest for 'emotional security' eight months before she killed herself and plans to set up a studio with ex-lover Marlon Brando goes on sale for $20K

  • The struggling actress tells mentor Lee Strasberg she is in emotional 'quicksand' 
  • She reveals plans to set up a production company with ex-lover Marlon Brando
  • Monroe agreed with psychiatrist 'to live decently and productively, I must work!'


A poignant letter by Marilyn Monroe written nine months before her suicide revealing her 'emotional insecurity' and being in 'quicksand' has been uncovered.

The Hollywood icon poured her heart out to her mentor and acting instructor Lee Strasberg and confessed she had been struggling for years with her state of mind.

Her woes had been exacerbated by her recent divorce from her third husband Arthur Miller and the cancellation of a TV project, as well as health problems.

This letter from Marilyn Monroe to her mentor Lee Strasberg, telling of her struggle with mental illness, is expected to fetch at least $20,000 on website RRAuction.com

This letter from Marilyn Monroe to her mentor Lee Strasberg, telling of her struggle with mental illness, is expected to fetch at least $20,000 on website RRAuction.com

This letter from Marilyn Monroe to her acting mentor Lee Strasberg is expected to fetch at least $20,000 at RRAuction.com

This letter from Marilyn Monroe to her acting mentor Lee Strasberg is expected to fetch at least $20,000 at RRAuction.com

Marilyn Monroe with fellow actor and former boyfriend Marlon Brando, with whom she planned to set up an independent film production unit

Marilyn Monroe with fellow actor and former boyfriend Marlon Brando, with whom she planned to set up an independent film production unit

Marilyn Monroe with her husband, playwright Arthur Miller, from whom she had recently divrced when she wrote the letter now up for auction

Marilyn Monroe with her husband, playwright Arthur Miller, from whom she had recently divrced when she wrote the letter now up for auction 

A portrait of Marilyn Monroe, who wrote to her acting mentor Lee Strasberg in December 1961 that she was 'struggling to find some emotional security'

A portrait of Marilyn Monroe, who wrote to her acting mentor Lee Strasberg in December 1961 that she was 'struggling to find some emotional security'

In the letter, dated December 19, 1961, Monroe disclosed that she had been regularly visiting her psychiatrist Dr Ralph Greenson.

From these sessions, she had concluded that getting back to work was her 'only trustworthy hope' of escaping her predicament.

Monroe had been unable to work for six months in 1961 de to a series of physical and mental health problems.

She dated Fran k Sinatra for several months that year, as well as rekindling a friendship with her ex-husband, baseball star Joe DiMaggio, who was helping her back on her feet.

The two page typed letter, signed by Monroe, is to be sold for the first time with US-based RR Auction.

She wrote: 'As you know, for years I have been struggling to find some emotional security with little success, for many different reasons.

'Only in the last several months, as you detected, do I seem to have made a modest beginning.

'It is true that my treatment with Dr Greenson has had its ups and downs, as you know.

'However, my overall progress is such that I have hopes of finally establishing a piece of ground for myself to stand on, instead of the quicksand I have always been in.

'But Dr Greenson agrees with you, that for me to live decently and productively, I must work!

'And work means not merely performing professionally, but to study and truly devote myself. My work is the only trustworthy hope I have.'

Despite claiming in the letter she had made 'progress' the 'blonde bombshell' ultimately could not free herself of her demons.

On August 4, 1962, Monroe was found dead in her LA home having taken a drugs overdose, aged 36.

Marilyn Monroe with singer and actor Frank Sinatra, who she dated for several months in 1961

Marilyn Monroe with singer and actor Frank Sinatra, who she dated for several months in 1961

Bobby Livingston, executive vice president at RR Auction, said: 'Strasberg was very much a father figure to Monroe - and in her final will she left all of her personal belongings and seventy-five percent of her estate to her mentor and acting coach.

'The letter shows her desperation that consumed the final months of her life making it a rare, intimate letter with amazing content and association from the legendary starlet.'

The timed auction ends on Thursday.

Marilyn Monroe with her second husband, basebvall star Joe Dimaggio, who remained devoted to her until the end

Marilyn Monroe with her second husband, basebvall star Joe Dimaggio, who remained devoted to her until the end

Suffering Marilyn's poignant letter to acting mentor Lee Strasberg

The full text of the letter from Marilyn Monroe to Lee Strasburg, which is expected to fetch at least $20,000 from US website RRAuction.com:

This is an important personal letter and please don’t start to read it until you have the time to give it your careful thought. This letter concerns my future plans and therefore concerns yours as well since my future development as an artist is based on our working together. All this is an introduction; let me outline the recent events, my ideas and my suggestions.

As you know, for years I have been struggling to find some emotional security with little success, for many different reasons. Only in the last several months, as you detected, do I seem to have made a modest beginning. It is true that my treatment with Dr. Greenson has had its ups and downs, as you know. However, my overall progress is such that I have hopes of finally establishing a piece of ground for myself to stand on, instead of the quicksand I have always been in. But Dr. Greenson agrees with you, that for me to live decently and productively, I must work! And work means not merely performing professionally, but to study and truly devote myself. My work is the only trustworthy hope I have. And here, Lee, is where you come in. To me, work and Lee Strasberg are synonymous. I do not want to be presumptuous in expecting you to come out here for me alone. I have contacted Marlon on this subject and he seems to be quite interested, despite the fact that he is in the process of finishing a movie. I shall talk with him more thoroughly in a day or two.

Furthermore, and this must be kept confidential for the time being, my attorneys and I are planning to set up and [sic] independent production unit, in which we have envisaged an important position for you. This is still in the formative phase, but I am thinking of you in some consultative position or in whatever way you might see fit. I know you will want enough freedom to pursue your teaching and any other private interests you might want to follow.

Though I am committed to my analysis, as painful as it is, I cannot definitively decide, until I hear from you, because without working with you only half of me is functioning. Therefore, I must know under what condition you might consider coming out here and even settling here.

I know this might sound quite fantastic, but if you add up all the possible advantages it should be quite a rewarding venture. I mean not only for Marlon and me—but for others. This independent production unit will also be making pictures without me—this is even required for legal reasons. This will offer an opportunity for Susan if she should be interested and perhaps even for Johnny. And Paula would have a great many opportunities for coaching. As for you, Lee, I still have the dream of you some day directing me in a film! I know this is a big step to take, but I have the wish that you might realize out here some of the incomplete hopes that were perhaps not fulfilled for you, like Lincoln Center, etc.

So I don’t know how else to persuade you. I need you to study with and I am not alone in this. I want to do everything in my power to get you to come out—within reason—as long as it is to your advantage as well as mine. So, Lee, please think this over carefully; this is an awfully important time of my life and since you mentioned on the phone that you too felt things were unsettled, I have dared to hope. I have meetings set up with Marlon and also with my attorneys and will phone you if there are any important new developments. Otherwise, please get in touch with me.

Suffering Marilyn's poignant letter to acting mentor Lee Strasberg

The full text of the letter from Marilyn Monroe to Lee Strasburg, which is expected to fetch at least $20,000 from US website RRAuction.com:

This is an important personal letter and please don’t start to read it until you have the time to give it your careful thought. This letter concerns my future plans and therefore concerns yours as well since my future development as an artist is based on our working together. All this is an introduction; let me outline the recent events, my ideas and my suggestions.

As you know, for years I have been struggling to find some emotional security with little success, for many different reasons. Only in the last several months, as you detected, do I seem to have made a modest beginning. It is true that my treatment with Dr. Greenson has had its ups and downs, as you know. However, my overall progress is such that I have hopes of finally establishing a piece of ground for myself to stand on, instead of the quicksand I have always been in. But Dr. Greenson agrees with you, that for me to live decently and productively, I must work! And work means not merely performing professionally, but to study and truly devote myself. My work is the only trustworthy hope I have. And here, Lee, is where you come in. To me, work and Lee Strasberg are synonymous. I do not want to be presumptuous in expecting you to come out here for me alone. I have contacted Marlon on this subject and he seems to be quite interested, despite the fact that he is in the process of finishing a movie. I shall talk with him more thoroughly in a day or two.

Furthermore, and this must be kept confidential for the time being, my attorneys and I are planning to set up and [sic] independent production unit, in which we have envisaged an important position for you. This is still in the formative phase, but I am thinking of you in some consultative position or in whatever way you might see fit. I know you will want enough freedom to pursue your teaching and any other private interests you might want to follow.

Though I am committed to my analysis, as painful as it is, I cannot definitively decide, until I hear from you, because without working with you only half of me is functioning. Therefore, I must know under what condition you might consider coming out here and even settling here.

I know this might sound quite fantastic, but if you add up all the possible advantages it should be quite a rewarding venture. I mean not only for Marlon and me—but for others. This independent production unit will also be making pictures without me—this is even required for legal reasons. This will offer an opportunity for Susan if she should be interested and perhaps even for Johnny. And Paula would have a great many opportunities for coaching. As for you, Lee, I still have the dream of you some day directing me in a film! I know this is a big step to take, but I have the wish that you might realize out here some of the incomplete hopes that were perhaps not fulfilled for you, like Lincoln Center, etc.

So I don’t know how else to persuade you. I need you to study with and I am not alone in this. I want to do everything in my power to get you to come out—within reason—as long as it is to your advantage as well as mine. So, Lee, please think this over carefully; this is an awfully important time of my life and since you mentioned on the phone that you too felt things were unsettled, I have dared to hope. I have meetings set up with Marlon and also with my attorneys and will phone you if there are any important new developments. Otherwise, please get in touch with me.

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Marilyn Monroe's letter describing her quest for 'emotional security' on sale for $20K

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