In just two years time, in 2012, it will be 50 years since Marilyn Monroe died at the tender age of just 36. However, despite nearly half a century having gone by since she passed away she is still incredibly popular and an awful lot of interest is shown in her life.

Marilyn has received endless interest both during her life and since her death, with no sign yet of it abating.

Books are still being written about her, the last one of note being 'Inside Marilyn Monroe, A Memoir' written in 2007 by John Gilmore. Gilmore himself had previously written an intimate account of his memories of James Dean, another huge icon of the past.

Marilyn is still very much thought of as a sex symbol - just over 10 years ago in 1999 she was named the 'Number One Sex Star of the 20th Century' by Playboy magazine as well as being voted the 'Sexiest Woman of the Century' by People Magazine.

The array of memorabilia available also shows no signs of abating, with a staggering amount on offer including many Marilyn Monroe posters, mugs, t-shirts, postcards, keychains and even luggage and shower curtains. The worlds love affair with Marilyn Monroe seems set to continue for some time to come.

Due to Marilyn's untimely death her career was naturally cut a little short, though she managed to fit in an impressive amount. Highlights included a couple of nominations for Best Foreign Actress at both the British Academy Awards. She also received a couple of Golden Globes, one for Best Actress in a Comedy for 'Some Like it Hot' in 1960 and one more general Golden Globe as 'Female World Film Favorite' in 1961.

During her career, Marilyn was always humble and unassuming, with great modesty. One of her most famous quotes was 'There was my name up in lights. I said, 'God, somebody's made a mistake.' But there it was, in lights. And I sat there and said, 'Remember, you're not a star.' Yet there it was up in lights' which sums up her personality and perhaps illustrates why she was adored by so much of the worlds population.

Born Norma Jeane Mortenson on June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California, to Gladys Baker, Marilyn didn't exactly have a smooth passage through life. With Gladys being admitted to a mental institution Marilyn's childhood saw her being shifted around a lot between foster homes and orphanages. She also joined the Merchant Marines in 1942 and was sent to the South Pacific in 1944.