Attracting Attention
Monroe's role in the film as a sexy murderer did not play great with audiences, but it certainly got her more press. In 1953 she won the "Fastest Rising Star" award from Photoplay, and she donned a slim skin-tight gold dress to accept it. Joan Crawford called her style "unbecoming an actress and a lady."
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes
Her next gig was in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, in which Monroe played the comical "dumb blonde". She and actress and Jane Russell played two gold-digging showgirls. The film was a massive blockbuster success, one of the biggest of the year. It also showcased Monroe's voice with her iconic performance of "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend."