New Book Shares Final Photos and Insights from Marilyn Monroe — Check Out the Cover!

Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, the Last Interview.
Credit :

Weldon Owen International

NEED TO KNOW

• The last interview and photoshoot of Marilyn Monroe are being made fully public for the first time
• Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, the Last Interview features an interview by Richard Meryman and photographs by Allan Grant
• The new book will be available one month before what would have been the actress’s 100th birthday

For the first time, the last photoshoot and interview of Marilyn Monroe will be publicly available. The forthcoming book, Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, the Last Interview, captures an interview conducted by Richard Meryman and photographs taken by Allan Grant just one month before her passing on August 4, 1962.

This publication sheds new light on the life of the iconic actress and model. According to Jason Greene, a founder of Monroe’s estate, the book is akin to “finding a sealed time capsule.”

The narrative finds Monroe at a pivotal moment in her life. At 36, she was navigating the complexities of fame, aging, and a legal dispute regarding her film Something’s Gotta Give. Originally intended to focus on her fame, the four-hour conversation with Meryman delved deeply into her life, though only a limited portion was previously published in LIFE Magazine.

Richard Meryman and Allan Grant.

Roddy McDowall; DotDashMeredith/People/LIFE

Upon Monroe’s passing, just two days after the article’s release, Meryman archived the full transcript and original tapes, keeping them from the public eye until now. Grant’s photographs depict Monroe in her home, dressed casually, embodying her spirited essence. Out of twelve rolls of film, only eight images were published alongside the 1962 article.

The release of Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, the Last Interview was facilitated by Greene and Chris Flannery, co-founders of 1962 MM LLC, now known as The Estate of Marilyn Monroe. They acquired Grant’s collection and, with help from Meryman’s daughter, sourced the original interview tapes.

“Discovering the complete session—over four hundred photos and four hours of Marilyn speaking freely—was like finding a sealed time capsule,” Greene remarked. “We knew immediately this was a story that had to be told, as it transforms our understanding of Monroe and highlights her enduring relevance.” Flannery added, “What Grant and Meryman captured is the Marilyn the world was never permitted to see.” He emphasized the importance of restoring and releasing this work as essential to both Monroe’s narrative and cultural memory.

Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, the Last Interview.

Weldon Owen International

The announcement of the book arrives just months before what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday on June 1, 2026. In addition to this release, her estate will honor her centenary with Marilyn Monroe 100: The Official Centenary Publication, which will feature a selection of photographs, scholarly reflections, and quotes from Monroe.

Marilyn: The Lost Photographs, the Last Interview is set for release on May 5, 2026, and will be available for pre-order at various retailers.