Marilyn Monroe had bipolar disorder, which probably was a cause in her sexual “acting out,” and her suicide. The disorder was untreatable at the time. I’m sure that she had an incredible energy when she was manic, and that men couldn’t get enough of her at these times, but that when she went into depressions, they would dump her, because they couldn’t stand it.
She was beautiful, but I think she was not a whole lot more beautiful than other beauties. I think what made her different, and what raised her to iconic status was that energy that she exuded. She was able to capture and project that sense of innocent sexuality that, combined with beauty, is an irresistible combination for men, straight or gay.
There are some who believe Liz Taylor was also bipolar, but there isn’t as much on the ‘net about that, so I’m not sure. I wouldn’t be surprised. She went through a number of men in her life, and if she was manic while filming, she, too, would have projected something more than her beauty would support. Again, I believe it is that energy which raises people to an iconic status. Of course, since it is driven by a mental disorder, it can kill you, too. I wonder if she is under treatment now, and that’s why she has disappeared from public view? Treatment gets rid of the manias, and, as a result, may also destroy those kind of luminescent portrayals of innocent sexual provocativeness that turned these women into stars.