Marilyn is featured in the latest issue of Yours magazine (dated January 7, 2025, with Fern Britton on the cover) in an article about the new year’s resolutions of old Hollywood stars. Although undated, this handwritten list was found in one of Marilyn’s address books, dating from around the time she moved to New York in 1955.
Illustrated with a 1953 photo of Marilyn by Alfred Eisenstaedt, this article first appeared in sister publication Yours Retro in 2023.
A full transcript of Marilyn’s ‘go-getter list’ was published (with her own misspellings) by Open Culture in 2015.
“Must make effort to do
Must have the dicipline to do the following –
z – go to class – my own always – without fail
x – go as often as possible to observe Strassberg’s other private classes
g – never miss actor’s studio sessions
v – work whenever possible – on class assignments – and always keep working on the acting exercises
u – start attending Clurman lectures – also Lee Strassberg’s directors lectures at theater wing – enquire about both
l – keep looking around me – only much more so – observing – but not only myself but others and everything – take things (it) for what they (it’s) are worth
y – must make strong effort to work on current problems and phobias that out of my past has arisen – making much much much more more more more more effort in my analisis. And be there always on time – no excuses for being ever late.
w – if possible – take at least one class at university – in literature –
o – follow RCA thing through.
p – try to find someone to take dancing from – body work (creative)
t – take care of my instrument – personally & bodily (exercise)
try to enjoy myself when I can – I’ll be miserable enough as it is.”
Marilyn also appears in the puzzle section of the Yours yearbook for 2025 – now available from WH Smith for just £5 – having previously graced the cover of a summer special back in 2006.
The Marilyn Report 