My Week with Marilyn
My Week with Marilyn is a 2011 British biographical drama film directed by Simon Curtis in his feature directorial debut and written by Adrian Hodges, based on two books by Colin Clark: The Prince, the Showgirl and Me (1996) and My Week with Marilyn (2000), recounting his real-life experiences as a young production assistant who spent a week with Marilyn Monroe during the filming of the 1957 Laurence Olivier-directed movie The Prince and the Showgirl in England.[1][2] The film stars Michelle Williams in the lead role as Monroe, alongside Eddie Redmayne as Clark, Kenneth Branagh as Olivier, and supporting performances by Judi Dench, Emma Watson, Dougray Scott, and Zoë Wanamaker.[3] It chronicles Clark's unlikely friendship with the iconic actress amid the tensions of the film's production, where Monroe, then newly married to playwright Arthur Miller, seeks respite from the stresses of her celebrity and the demanding set environment by escaping with Clark to the English countryside for a brief, idyllic interlude.[4] Produced by companies including The Weinstein Company, BBC Films, and UK Film Council, the movie premiered at the New York Film Festival on 9 October 2011 and was released theatrically in the United States on 23 November 2011 (limited) and in the United Kingdom on 25 November 2011.[5] With a runtime of 99 minutes, it blends elements of romance, comedy, and behind-the-scenes drama to explore themes of fame, vulnerability, and fleeting connection.[6] Critically, My Week with Marilyn holds an 82% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 188 reviews, as of November 2025, with praise centered on Williams' transformative portrayal of Monroe, which captured the star's charisma, fragility, and professional struggles.[4] The film earned two Academy Award nominations, for Best Actress (Williams) and Best Supporting Actor (Branagh), along with a Golden Globe nomination for Williams in the Best Actress – Drama category; it also won Williams a British Independent Film Award for Best Actress.[7] Commercially, it grossed over $35 million worldwide against a $10 million budget, marking a modest but successful arthouse release.[8]Synopsis and cast
Plot
In 1956, recent university graduate Colin Clark arrives in London seeking work in the film industry and secures a position as third assistant director on the production of The Prince and the Showgirl, a film directed by and starring Laurence Olivier opposite Marilyn Monroe.[9] Eager to prove himself, Colin takes on menial tasks, including chauffeuring Marilyn around the city amid the media frenzy surrounding her arrival with her new husband, playwright Arthur Miller, and her entourage, which includes acting coach Paula Strasberg.[4] The set quickly becomes a battleground of tensions: Olivier, impatient with Marilyn's Method acting approach and her frequent delays due to anxiety and medication, pushes her to deliver lines precisely, while Marilyn relies heavily on Strasberg's guidance and feels undermined by Olivier's traditional directing style.[9] As filming progresses amid these conflicts, Marilyn grows increasingly isolated and exhausted. When Arthur departs for Paris to revise a new play, leaving her without his support, she turns to Colin for escape, inviting him to drive her into the English countryside for a break from the pressures of the production and her celebrity life.[4] Their week unfolds as a series of carefree yet revealing escapades. They share a picnic beside a stream in Windsor Great Park, where Marilyn sheds her glamorous facade, strips down, and swims playfully with Colin, leading to their first kiss in the water.[10] Colin introduces her to his world, taking her to Windsor Castle for a private tour of the royal library led by his godfather, the librarian Owen Morshead, and to his alma mater, Eton College, where she marvels at the historic surroundings.[11] Throughout their time together, Marilyn confides in Colin about her deep insecurities, troubled childhood, and the loneliness masked by her sex-symbol image, revealing a vulnerable woman craving authentic connection and affection.[9] Central conflicts emerge from her emotional fragility: she suffers breakdowns, including one night at Parkside House where she locks herself in her bedroom, overwhelmed by self-doubt; Colin sneaks in to comfort her as she lies on the bed, sharing quiet moments of solace.[9] Their budding romance intensifies with further intimacy, but it is repeatedly disrupted by her entourage—such as when her bodyguard Roger Smith interrupts a passionate kiss—highlighting the inescapable pull of her fame and dependencies.[9] By week's end, Marilyn returns to the set renewed, delivering a standout performance in her final scenes that impresses even Olivier. As production wraps, Colin bids her farewell at the airport, reflecting on the profound, fleeting bond that taught him about love, fame, and human vulnerability during his transformative encounter with the icon.[9]Cast
The film My Week with Marilyn features an ensemble cast recreating key figures from the 1956 production of The Prince and the Showgirl, blending American and British performers to evoke the era's transatlantic cultural exchange.[12]| Actor | Role | Character Description |
|---|---|---|
| Michelle Williams | Marilyn Monroe | The celebrated American actress and star of the film-within-the-film, known for her glamorous yet vulnerable persona.[12] |
| Kenneth Branagh | Sir Laurence Olivier | The esteemed British actor and director overseeing the production of The Prince and the Showgirl.[12] |
| Eddie Redmayne | Colin Clark | The inexperienced third assistant director on the set, drawn into Marilyn's orbit as a confidant.[12] |
| Julia Ormond | Vivien Leigh | The acclaimed British actress and Olivier's wife, adding tension to the on-set dynamics.[12] |
| Judi Dench | Dame Sybil Thorndike | A seasoned British stage actress with a supporting role in the production, offering wisdom amid the chaos.[12] |
| Emma Watson | Lucy | A wardrobe assistant on the production team, representing the behind-the-scenes staff.[12] |
| Dougray Scott | Arthur Miller | The renowned American playwright and Marilyn's husband during her time in England.[12] |
| Geraldine Somerville | Lady Jane Clark | Colin Clark's supportive mother, connected to the British cultural elite.[12] |
| Dominic Cooper | Milton H. Greene | Marilyn's trusted photographer and close friend, accompanying her from the U.S.[12] |
| Pip Torrens | Sir Kenneth Clark | Colin Clark's father, a prominent art historian and director of the National Gallery.[12] |
| Philip Jackson | Roger Smith | Marilyn's bodyguard.[12][13] |
| Zoë Wanamaker | Paula Strasberg | Marilyn's method acting coach, influencing her performance style on set.[12] |