The final six months of Marilyn Monroe's life will be turned into a BBC TV series. The 'ambitious' show will explore 'big themes such as power, love, loyalty and politics', including the actress' relationship with US President John F Kennedy.

It is not known who has been cast as the icon. Previous actresses to play her include Michelle Williams, Gemma Arterton and Ashley Judd.

Monroe's death in 1962, a result of an overdose of sleeping pills, has attracted a lot of controversy and conspiracy theories, with some claiming that she was murdered. No evidence of foul play was ever found.

BBC Studios is developing the series with Dan Sefton who said that he is 'thrilled... to bring this incredible true story to the screen'. The drama is inspired by Keith Badman's 2010 book The Final Years of Marilyn Monroe.

'Marilyn's desire to be taken seriously as an actress and her battle with the powerful men who control the studio system is sadly as relevant today as it ever was,' said Sefton.

These rare Marilyn Monroe pictures are stunning
Hair, White, Sitting, Blond, Pink, Skin, Beauty, Shoulder, Leg, Joint,
From: Harper's BAZAAR UK
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Ella Alexander
Ella Alexander is Harper’s Bazaar's Deputy Digital Editor. She writes across all sections, covering fashion, arts and feminism – from fashion features and shopping galleries to celebrity interviews and long-form opinion pieces. She lives in South London and has an ardent love for Keith Richards, Gary Barlow, AA Gill, George Orwell and Patti Smith (not in order). Her favourite film is The Labyrinth, mostly because of David Bowie, and she is distinguishable through her self-titled ‘Jeremy Corbyn baker boy hat’. She recently achieved relative fame after the Clooneys named their twins, Ella and Alexander, after her.