Marilyn Monroe: Fifty Cent Soul
on Saturday, June 1, 2019Marilyn Monroe Money Quote saying Hollywood is willing to pay much more for minor things than the most important existential gifts. Marilyn Monroe said:
“Hollywood is a place where they’ll pay you a thousand dollars for a kiss and fifty cents for your soul. I know, because I turned down the first offer often enough and held out for the fifty cents” — Marilyn Monroe
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In this quote, Marilyn Monroe is commenting cynically on the Hollywood system and the commodification of artists. She’s saying that in Hollywood, you can be paid well ($1000) for superficial or physical aspects of your work, like a kiss in a scene, but your creative spirit and integrity (“soul”) are valued much less (50 cents).
Monroe is suggesting she often refused jobs or roles that didn’t align with her values or required too much of her personally, even if they paid well financially. She held out for opportunities that nourished her artistry and soul, even if they paid less money. The quote criticizes how Hollywood is willing to pay more for superficial aspects of a person than their humanity or talent.
Birthday: June 1, 1926 – Death: August 4, 1962