Send us Fan Mail

In advance of the highly anticipated release of Marilyn: The Lost Photographs The Last Interview, Scott Fortner and Elisa Jordan sit down with authors Chris Flannery and Jason Greene for an in depth conversation about one of the most significant Marilyn Monroe projects in decades.

Bringing together Marilyn’s final recorded interview with Richard Meryman and the complete archive of photographs taken by LIFE photographer Allan Grant, this new volume offers an unprecedented look at Marilyn in the final weeks of her life. For the first time, her words and her image are presented together in their entirety. Unfiltered, unretouched, and deeply human.

Recorded just weeks before her passing in 1962, Marilyn Monroe’s final interview stands as one of the most revealing documents of her life. Conducted by Meryman and captured on reel to reel tape, the conversation preserves Marilyn’s words exactly as she intended. What originally appeared in LIFE magazine represented only a fraction of what was said.

Paired with this interview is Allan Grant’s remarkable photographic session, more than 430 images taken inside Marilyn’s Brentwood home, with over 300 never before published. Captured in a single setting, with minimal styling and no heavy retouching, the photographs present Marilyn not as a constructed icon, but as a woman in her own space. Across the sequence, she reveals a full range of emotion through subtle shifts in expression, posture, and presence, demonstrating a mastery of image that is both instinctive and deliberate.

Together, the interview and photographs form a powerful time capsule. Marilyn speaks candidly about fame, identity, creativity, and the pressures placed upon her, topics that remain strikingly relevant today. She challenges the public perception of her as a persona, revealing instead a woman of intelligence, humor, and emotional depth. Her reflections on art and performance underscore her commitment to her craft, while her observations on life and human connection reveal a perspective that is both grounded and insightful.

Flannery and Greene share the journey behind the project, from their first meeting with Allan Grant’s widow, Karen Grant, to the discovery, preservation, and restoration of the original audio recordings. They discuss the responsibility of serving as stewards of this material, and the importance of presenting Marilyn as she intended to be seen and heard.

The book itself reflects that philosophy. Marilyn’s words are organized by theme, offering a clearer understanding of the ideas she explored, while the photographs are presented as they were captured, preserving the authenticity of the moment. The result is not simply a collection of images or an interview transcript, but a cohesive and deeply personal portrait of Marilyn Monroe at a pivotal moment in her life.

This episode offers a rare opportunity to go behind the scenes of a project already being recognized as one of the most important contributions to Marilyn scholarship in decades. Before the book’s release, hear directly from the authors as they share how these materials were brought together, and why, more than sixty years later, Marilyn’s voice continues to resonate with such clarity, power, and relevance.

ATM Podcast: @allthingsmarilynpodcast
Scott @marilynmonroecollection
Elisa @la_woman_tours

Credits
Artwork by @marilynmexico
Soundtrack by @silver_technicolor