When it comes to all-American superstars, she is right up there with Elvis and John Wayne.
But it has emerged that Marilyn Monroe may have links a little closer to home.
The icon of the silver screen has links to the Highlands – and now the search is on for relatives.
DNA research has found that Monroe has roots in Ross-shire and is descended from a soldier from the county exiled to America after the English Civil War.
The links were uncovered by research funded by the Clan Munro USA which is now sponsoring free tests for Munros with Ross-shire and Highland origins to help find distant relatives of the Some Like It Hot star.
Monroe was born as Norma Jeane Mortenson but took her screen name from her mother.
The research made use of DNA provided a male-line relative of Marilyn Monroe’s grandfather Otis Elmer Monroe.
It suggested a link to a John Munro from the Tain area who traveled to America in the mid-17th century.
Many Scottish men fought for the Royalist cause against Oliver Cromwell and after defeat many were exiled to America.
John Munro is said to have ultimately settled in Rhode Island.
The results of the research were recently revealed by Mark Monroe of the Clan Munro USA newsletter.
He said: “Like all clans, Munro men, however they spell the name, have a mix of male genetic lines.
“Last year we found that many Scots Munros are related to the US president James Monroe.
“Descendents of John of Rhode Island also form a large genetic group in present day America and it would be good to find their relatives among Highland men today.”
Marilyn Monroe is one of the most famous faces of the 20th century.
She starred in films such as The Misfits and The Seven Year Itch.
She died in 1962 after a drug overdose aged 36-years-old.
Had she lived she would have celebrated her 90th birthday earlier this week.
Clan chief Hector Munro of Foulis Castle near Evanton is reported to be “fascinated” by the findings and the potential benefit to Ross-shire and the Highlands.
