Marilyn Monroe — The Emerald Gaze, Golden Globes, Hollywood, 1962, 1962

An original vintage color Kodachrome transparency depicting Marilyn Monroe at the 1962 Golden Globe Awards, captured at the height of her legendary fame during what would become one of the final great public appearances of her life.

This striking profile portrait shows Monroe in a moment of luminous elegance — poised beneath the lights of Hollywood, her platinum hair glowing against the darkness, her expression both reflective and magnetic. Unlike many widely circulated Golden Globes photographs showing Monroe smiling on stage, this rare close-up profile image captures a more intimate and cinematic side of the star, revealing the extraordinary beauty and sophistication that made her an enduring icon of twentieth-century culture.

At the ceremony, Monroe received the prestigious Henrietta Award for “World Film Favorite – Female,” one of the most important popularity honors of the era. The award recognized her unmatched international fame and public appeal. It would become the last Golden Globe honor she received before her death later that same year.

For the occasion, Monroe wore an unforgettable sequined evening gown designed by celebrated American fashion designer Norman Norell. The dramatic emerald-green dress — sleek, fitted, and daringly modern — has since become one of the most famous garments associated with Monroe. Decades later, the gown itself became a major collector’s piece, selling at auction from Monroe’s estate for approximately £75,000. Fans and historians have also long speculated that the diamond earrings Monroe wore that evening may have been a gift from Frank Sinatra.

The transparency is housed in its original mount bearing the markings “Kodachrome Transparency” and “Processed by Technicolor,” classic indicators of mid-century professional color photography. The vivid Kodachrome process is renowned for its remarkable color depth, archival stability, and richly cinematic tones — qualities that helped define the golden age of Hollywood photography.

Photographer unknown.

Transparency size: 2 x 2 inches.

A rare and visually stunning surviving color image from Marilyn Monroe’s final year — capturing not merely a celebrity appearance, but the timeless aura of Hollywood’s most enduring star.