At a Glance
- A new book will publish never-before-seen Bruno Bernard photos of Marilyn Monroe
- The images span Monroe’s transformation from Norma Jeane to global icon
- The lenticular cover shows the famous white-dress moment in motion
- Why it matters: Fans will see a fuller, more human side of Monroe for her centenary
A forthcoming visual biography will unveil rare Bruno Bernard photographs that capture Marilyn Monroe’s rise from Norma Jeane to Hollywood legend. Slated for release on May 19, 2026, The Marilyn Monroe Century: From Norma Jeane to Icon – A Story in Photographs commemorates what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday.
The Photographer Behind the Icon
Bruno Bernard-creator of the famed Marilyn in White shot of Monroe atop a subway grate-amassed an archive that his grandson, Joshua John Miller, and co-author Mark A. Fortin, have curated for the first time. The book pairs Bernard’s pictures with his diary entries and commentary from contemporary Hollywood voices, forming what the publisher calls a “landmark tribute to one of the most enduring icons of the 20th century.”
Miller and Fortin tell News Of Losangeles in a statement that Bernard “met her before the myth existed,” positioning him as one of the few insiders who knew Monroe as both the ambitious young model Norma Jeane and the manufactured superstar Marilyn Monroe.
Inside the Book
Key elements include:
- Unpublished photos from Bernard’s private archive
- Diary excerpts detailing private conversations with Monroe
- Insights from modern industry figures reflecting on her legacy
- A lenticular cover that animates the white-dress image
The synopsis contends that Bernard “was the only photographer who had a profound relationship with the star as Norma Jeane and Marilyn Monroe,” arguing that his lens reveals an untold history of the woman “no one has ever really seen.”
Grandson’s Personal Mission
For Miller, assembling the book carried deep personal stakes. “He understood her ambition, vulnerability and intelligence in a way few people did,” he tells News Of Losangeles. “The photographs and conversations he preserved tell a fuller, more human story of who she really was, and on the centenary of her birth, it felt important to finally share that truth.”
The project arrives amid renewed fascination with Monroe, offering what the authors frame as an intimate counter-narrative to decades of mythology.
Publishing Details
Publisher Abrams Books will release the commemorative volume on May 19, 2026. Pre-orders are live now through standard retail channels.
Key Takeaways
- Bruno Bernard’s unseen Monroe archive fills a new centenary photo book
- The collection emphasizes Monroe’s humanity beyond the Hollywood myth
- Lenticular cover technology brings the classic white-dress image to life
- Release timing aligns with what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday
