Beginning to Use
There were a lot of reasons for the star's dilapidated state. She was self-conscious and felt out of control on sets, unlike modeling which always gave her control. To combat this self-doubt, Monroe turned to barbiturates, amphetamines, and alcohol. Her friend Sarah Churchwell said that later in her career, issues like sexism and condescending male actors worsened her growing addiction.
Rising Star
While Marilynn began to feel worse, her career only got better. She was finally getting difficult leading roles that challenged her range as an actress. In the film noir Niagara, Monroe played a femme fatale scheming to kill her husband. It was one of her most famous roles and also featured what would become her signature look: dark, arched eyebrows, red lips, and a beauty mark.