Very Rare Interview With Drama Coach Natasha Lytess About Marilyn Monroe in July 1962

[@solution42]

The journalist: Do you remember when Marilyn came into your life? Do you remember the first time you saw her? Natasha Lytess: Yes. She was not beautiful. She was not beautiful, she had no makeup. She was a natural blonde girl that was very rare at that time in Hollywood. She was very very shy. She was completely like an oyster The journalist: Like an oyster? Natasha Lytess: Yes like an oyster. She couldn't speak, she didn't know how to open her mouth, and she feared everything. [...] She ate yes... She had a narrow hand-sewn dress, a red wool one. Her heels were so high, she could hardly walk. She moved like that (she imitates Marilyn) so all the men in the studio whistled at her. But her face was a childish one with disheveled hair... it was an extraordinary thing to see. And on the other hand her body and her moves were so feminine. It was just as if she was two different persons. The journalist: How long did you work with Marilyn? Natasha Lytess: Ten years... perhaps ten and a half. From the beginning with Colombia to.... The journalist: to the great successes. Natasha Lytess: To her greatest success. She had been number 1 at box office for 6 years in the USA. The journalist: How did you work with her on the set? Natasha Lytess: On the set I was always very close to her. I had to be so close to her that she was always asking: Can she be a little bit closer to me? The director answered: "yes but we see her in the camera". Very often, during close-ups I had to hold her hand like that (she takes the journalist's hand).... I had to support her every time. Thanks to the specificities of the close-up -which films only the head or the shoulders- I could hold her hand without being filmed by the camera. I had to do it to give her some courage you know. The journalist: For a while you had lived with Marilyn in the same house? Nastasha Lytess: We had lived together for two years. The first time we had shared a flat and later she had lived in my house... it was later... The journalist: How long did her bath last? Natasha Lytess: Naked, she was always naked in the house. 6 or 7 or 8 hours... she was naked all day long! And I'm not exaggerating! After breakfast -eggs with milk but no coffee... she never drank coffee- she spent all her days before her mirror and she put on make-up like that... like a very important surgery (she imitates Marilyn). The journalist: Can you talk about the dress she wore the night of Photoplay's gala? Natasha Lytess: The dress was sewed on her. She could not put the dress like that... it was just like skin. There was nothing under the dress, no underwear. The journalist: That's why she became famous? Natasha Lytess: Yes and no. She had a lot of publicities but in fact she did not need that. On the contrary she had some problems because of that. The journalist: So, why did she dress and act like that? Natasha Lytess: It's very difficult to explain. She was so insecure, she was afraid of giving up all that had made her as Marilyn the sexiest girl: dresses, make-up, moves. Because she thought she had nothing to give except sex appeal. In fact it's interesting because she really hated sex! The journalist: Her? Latasha Lytess: Yes Marilyn. She hates sex. She was afraid of that. When someone told her: "you look sexy" she did not like that. You can say that to another girl "you look sexy", "Yes I did" she is very happy, Marilyn never! One day I worked in the studio, all of a sudden, I do not know why, I had the feeling that I had to go home. Why? I do not know. No one called me. I took my car and I went to my house. At home there was my maid Clara and the door was opened. I said to her: "where's Marilyn?"; "I don't know Miss Lytess". My maid answered: "I did not see her". So I ran, I knocked on her bedroom's door and immediately I saw on the door, a piece of paper on which Marilyn had written "do not let Barbara enter my bedroom". The journalist: Barbara is your daughter? Natasha Lytess: Yes Barbara is my daughter. I knocked on the door. No answer. I pushed the door quite easily because it was not locked up, there was a chair behind the door to block it. And I saw Marilyn in her bed, her hair was uncombed, she was not really covered up and her face was awfully pale. Her cheeks were swelled like that (she imitates) and she had a vacant look. I said "what have you done Marilyn?" She looked at me like that (she imitates Marilyn's look). I repeated "what have you done?" She answered "nothing". And I violently slapped her... Because I was terrified you know. I opened her mouth and it was full of an awful green thing. I do not know what it was but I took it from her mouth with my hand. She had swallowed sixteen sleeping pills. The journalist: She had tried to swallow it... Nastasha Lytess: Yes. But she had taken sixteen pills... The doctor told me that dose was so high that it could have killed her. At that moment of her life she wanted to kill herself because she was lost. The journalist: What is the truth about Marilyn's childhood? Natasha Lytess: A big part about Marilyn's childhood is true. But another one is exaggerated. She exaggerated a lot. She wanted to be the orphan child. She missed her childhood. She couldn't have it back you know. I saw her mother once. She was crazy you know and she is still. And I talked to her father once on the phone. The journalist: Marilyn had found her father, hadn't she? Natasha Lytess: Yes exactly. She was absolutely sure of her: he was her father. She never met him. She asked me one day "I want to talk to him, do you think it's a good idea?" I answered "yes you're right, it may help you." So one day we took a car and we went to Palm Springs - it is a desert- to meet him. But we couldn't see him. The journalist: Why? Natasha Lytess: Why? Because she was afraid of meeting him without warning him. It was very very hot that day. She was very nervous because all her make-up was flowing over her face, whereas she had spent hours to be perfect and very beautiful for him. It was really touching. She was just like a woman who wanted to meet her lover or her husband but certainly not her father. She just wanted to dazzle him. I understood her perfectly. Then we finally arrived, she was very nervous, her hair was disheveled and she did not have any make-up left. She wanted me to speak to him. So she gave me a paper with his name. We were standing in a phone box and I dialed the telephone number and a voice answered "yeah". It was a terrible voice, a very nasal one... You know in America there are terrible voices like that. He asked "who is it?" I answered "I speak for Marilyn Monroe". "Who is she?" Like that you know... So I talked to him but you see he wanted to hang up so I told him "no no you wait". I was very close to her; you see the phone box was very small for two people. She began talking like that (she imitates Marilyn) "yes here is Marilyn" like that you know. And he said "who are you?" He said to her terrible things and very harmful words: "who the hell are you?"... Like that. She said to him that she just wanted to talk to him and that she did not want anything... absolutely nothing at all. She said: "I'd like to see you just one time" He refused. He said "I have a family, my own kids ..." like that. Finally he promised to call her when he'd be back in Hollywood. She said really moving "Are you going to? I'm very very happy!". It was so sad, I was crying you know. She wanted to see her real father. The journalist: Did he call her? Natasha Lytess: NEVER!!

[@Tuijjcc]

Thank you for the translation.

[@raindroph5120]

Thank you for translating the story. So sad for Marilyn.

[@dariawells7438]

Thank you for the translation. I just saw Ms. Lytess on "What's My Line?" and became curious about her.

[@lunaria111]

Thank you so much!

[@Eevanova]

Thank you.

[@yaronkl]

It's heart breaking. Marilyn's anxieties, self-doubt, hardships on sets, suicide attempt, the attempt to contact her father. My God she was so sensitive and fragile on the one hand and so determined and strong on the other. Imagine doing your job and being so terrified you have to have someone literally hold your hand. There is so much painful information about Marilyn in this interview. Maybe this is what made Marilyn Monroe so special and unique. Once can sense her vulnerability and gentleness. I just never saw her as a sex symbol. A Beauty Symbol - yes. My impression is that Natasha Lytess contributed a lot to Marilyn's development and career. Maybe if she was still her coach instead of Paula Strasberg Marilyn's time on set would have been easier. RIP Marilyn, you are so loved. You were so wonderful in your art.

[@szee8588]

Marilyn chose the wrong people to surround her. She didn't know any better, and too bad she didn't have a good friend to give her some guidance.

[@theredbarroness]

This is amazing! I really see that Marilyn mirrored some of Ms Lytess’ mannerisms!! And the hand motions also the hair as well looks similar.

[@YoBoyMarcus]

Great interview. Very revealing about Marilyn's personal life.

[@marilynmonroevideoarchives]

Thanks alot :) I'm sure alot of people that can't understand French will really appreciate it!! have put the link in the info box above to your translation for us all!! thanks again!

[@Ancoraimparo1219]

How odd Marilyn dies and then Natasha soon after. She claims she was Marilyn's confidant out of all of that surrounded her. Wonder what she truly knew and what she would of revealed eventually because she was truly exposing things I'm sure a true friend would of never have to possibly gain something out of it. Someone was listening and was definitely worried she was running her mouth a little too much.

[@ThePromoModel]

Natasha died from cancer in Switzerland. At least that's the story. Who knows if it's true. 🤷‍♀️ We'll never know, but I'd think if someone killed her because of something she knew, I think they would've done it before '64.

[@carmenpujalt4793]

Gracias por decir la verdad, fue una verdad OCULTA. La maldad del mundo poder y crimen. 😢😢😢❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Al final su amor sería ella con quién la modelo como una escultura de Miguel Ángel, con piel y voz . Viva , hermosa llena de sensualidad y dulzura. Mágica combinación de su amante y entrenadora. No sé puede ocultar que Natasha fue quien parió a una actriz que es el icono mundial de amor profundo por millones de seguidores en el mundo. El amor no es para patanes carniceros, vestidos de algo no eran. La verdad siempre sale a la luz. Que ridículos tener una amante y ya. No pasa NADA. Crímenes de Amor. Descaro total. Que descansen en paz. Amor verdadero de Marilyn y Natasha. Por siempre. Estarán juntas en un lugar bello dos princesas.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@onehotminutex]

Donald's book said Marilyn never did anything romantic or sexual with Natasha, it just says that Natasha had romantic feelings for Marilyn... I think Donald's book was one of the least sensationalist book out there about Marilyn! He debunked alot of myths. :)

[@2Uahoj]

MM had a natural gift that was spoiled around 1955 when she went to the "Actors Studio" which filled her with all kinds of complexes about her acting, and the need for a "coach." It was ridiculous. Just compare her work before and after. Lawrence Olivier commented that the gift she had was spoiled by "people talking big to her" about acting.

[@xelablack]

Thank you so much for translating 💜

[@bwrobeson]

Thank you so much...whoever made this possible...b

[@Valerie-gn1rr]

Poor Marilyn, what a bad friend she had ! Revealing so much about her, while she was still alive and her comments are quite nasty sometimes. She was probably jalous about her..

[@Anastasia1993116]

I find it funny how people like to pretend they ' knew ' Marilyn better than Natasha ( her mentor at some point ) , The Strasbergs ( her mentors ) or even Miller ( her ex husband ) . No matter what you might think of these people they knew Monroe personally/ on an intimate level and were very important people in her life that actually made an impact on her . In order to speak about ' the real Monroe or Norma Jean ' you had to know her personally. Even the biggest fan at the end of the day loves the movie star . Loving the ' person ' is exclusively the privilege of the people who got to know the person and were a part of her life at some point . I don't care how bitter that pill is to swallow. I will take Natasha's word over the word of people that at best watched her movies , read books about her or saw her pics ( aka all related to the movie star ) . She wasn't particularly disrespectful to Marilyn here and no one can accuse of ' milking ' Marilyn's name cause she was still alive at the time .

[@ironduke2000]

I wouldn't say that Natasha is disrespectful, either, though I believe she was trying to capitalize on her association with MM when she did this interview, being sick with cancer and needing funds. I think she had it in mind to write a memoir, and possibly the interview was, from her point of view, meant to attract attention from publishers. From what I understand of MM, her life was so compartmentalized that no one finally knew her well, or as Pat Newcomb once said, "Marilyn Monroe never told anybody everything." She had a lot of secrets, per her background; I would imagine that privacy is hard to come by in an orphanage, so one learns to hoard one's secrets, big or small. I've heard, by the way, many make remarks similar to Natasha's about the schism or duality in MM -- "It's like she was two people," etc. Her fans respond very much to the sweetness in her, but she could be as cruel as she was sweet, as Natasha learned the hard way: when MM had no more use for her, Natasha was dropped professionally and personally. The last time she saw MM, she went to the Greenes' rented house in LA and was sent away by someone else, and as she was leaving, she turned and saw MM watching her coldly from an upstairs window. We'll probably never know the extent to which Natasha contributed to the MM persona. My guess is that she contributed quite a bit. Natasha was not, obviously, a sex bomb, but you can see in this interview that she mimics the MM voice perfectly, and I think, in their coaching sessions, she would give line readings to MM and act out the part to show how it should be done, so that when we see MM in many of her films and PR appearances, we're seeing, in part, MM's impersonation of Natasha's impersonation of a sex bomb. It's kind of funny, really -- if, of course, I'm right.

[@DEBBIEDippoliti]

Mm stated in an interview that she felt like a fake. I feel she suffered an identity trauma at a young age she would have to play the part of a child of an imagination of how to he in a normal home with parents and siblings. From then she learned and mastered how to mimic people. She also said as a small child after seeing movies she would act out all the parts imitating the characters.... interpreting them. Her world was imagination of what she should or could be. Her development as child was severely lacking. We all developed our personalities from our parents and surroundings...she never had that. Even when u look at her vocal lessons she mimicking her teacher right down to the hand gestures. I don't think she knew how yo he a real person.... every side of her was a character. That's a hard life and would make u suicidal believing that your a fake in life... to be different to everyone and every aspect. Each relationship family friends coworkers husband's lovers...she played to what she felt they were interested in the attraction. I wish she would have sought or someone outside of Hollywood could have helped her out of imagination and live in realization. Imagine how great her life would have been and to find fulfillment and peace and to be allowed to be comfortable to herself. She was everything to everyone and everyone taking a piece of her is what killed her. She was tired emotional tired and done. Rip beautiful

[@sleedolfine15]

I just watched this woman in the movie Comrade X which came out in 1940. She died not long after this interview.

[@rubydawn1]

Norma Jean was good to her mother till the day she died and after her estate took care of her Her mother was beautiful even in old age

[@JackstonePictures]

this is the first time i ever heard Natasha lytess speak at all :o i like where you're going with your rare videos by the way ;D very interesting... :)

[@helenamatias5]

I'm Portuguese. I'm very happy because I speak English, French, Spanish and German. So it was easy to understand this interview 😀

[@ulrichlehnhardt4293]

within a year of this interview Marilyn and Natascha were dead.

[@Anton-fw2wb]

Hum, I have some doubts. Why talking to her father she named herself Marilyn instead of Norma Jean? And what about the melodramatic scene when she saved her last minute from an overdose of pills. The sad thing about Marilyn is that everyone she met, pretends to have known her better and to have contributed to make her taking advantage of her supposed vulnerability... poor orphan... the mother was mad... and bla bla bla. Can we think about Marilyn as an intelligent and determined person who knew what to do? We are not stronger beacuse we are still alive instead of her. We are weaker beacuse we tollerate to live slave of the system, alienated, frustrated. Actually human beings are wrong. We could change. We could be a better version of ourself. We have the potentiality. " I am not an object, an item in the studios' catalogue." This is what Marilyn story teachs me.

[@mimosa27]

Terrific post.

[@HgR_49]

I wonder how much of what she's saying is actually true. I know that she started speaking to the press about Marilyn which led to her being cut off. The whole "she was not pretty" comments are opinions and the naked all day comments I doubt very much. What is known is that Marilyn had overdosed before so it is possible that Natasha was the one who had her revived. RIP dear Marilyn.

[@homiekeen23]

Since I've been living alone I'm almost naked all the time so I do find that believable if they were close 😅

[@jc7052]

I BELIEVE THIS WOMAN USED MONROE JUST LIKE SO MANY OTHER PEOPLE DID.

[@cayetanotirado5907]

It has been reported from newly unearthed documents that Natasha Lytess, her German drama coach speaking here and Marilyn Monroe had a lesbian affair of two years out of the 10 or 11 years they knew each other. Supposedly they lived like husband and wife those two years.

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

Monroe also used others so I guess they are even.

[@asta5974]

Just wondering, did she actually say that Marilyn Monroe was naturally blond and that it was rare in Hollywood....if this is what she say , I find it hard to actually believe she new Marilyn, anyway personally I think we will never truly know the real Marilyn. How can we from a picture ? Norma Jean created a public persona , on screen and on pictures, I believe Marilyn Monroe was Art . Everything was pure perfection...on film when the light was on, Marilyn Monroe was alive... beautiful and unique. And in the secret chamber of her own heart what was going on there.. when she was alone... that we will never know.

[@mjaliveinmusic]

thanks for the translation...i dont understand french.-

[@alanaronald244]

mjaliveinmusic Most welcome. So nice to see a YT page with polite people!

[@Tuijjcc]

Thanks to all who translated.

[@bijouxzane]

awesome!!! merci!!!!

[@a1migdaliareportandomiami666]

EL DOCTOR Y LA ENFERMERA. LA PROFESORA Y LA ALUMNA. LOVE FOR EVER. MARYLIN MONROE AND NASTASHA LYTESS LONG YEARS AND OTHERS ...WOMAN'S . LAS MAS LINDAS FLORES DEL JARDIN EN MI CAMA Y MI CORAZON POR SIEMPRE.❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@djr6876]

Surprised Natasha is talking sorta disparagingly about Marilyn at times, considering how close they were. Had they parted ways at this point?

[@MarilynMonroeSITE]

Thankyou very much, there's no hurry. Excellent thankyou :o))

[@marilynmonroevideoarchives]

:) This is all i have

[@Dreamskater100]

Thank you. Very much appreciated.

[@alainrancourt6089]

J'aimerais bien avoir la suite de l'interview ...

[@onehotminutex]

Do you believe that Natasha Lytess was interested in Marilyn romantically like what Donald Spoto said in his book?

[@isla4953]

I know this is an old question, but in case anyone cares to know, apparently Marilyn's Psychiatrist (and the one killed her for god knows who... JFK, the mob, the studio!?) Recorded Marilyn's sessions with him and shared what Marilyn said about sleeping with Natasha (and Joan Crawford) and that she taught her how to give women orgasms. Joe DiMaggio said that Marilyn's relationships with Natasha and her penchant for the fairer sex ruined their marriage (this is just what I've read. Who really knows)

[@szee8588]

No, I don't believe that. And don't believe anything Dr Greenson says. I heard he was hired to spy on Marilyn and also do other things to her - psych drugs, mind control, etc. One guy at the scene that day said Dr Greenson was the one who killed her with an injection into her heart. He at first thought it was an adrenaline shot. To me, he hasthe look of an evil person.

[@MarilynMonroeFanChannel]

Thankyou, that makes it a little clearer as I don't speak French. :o))

[@GeorgesDorey-r6c]

Juste incroyable ! merci. Peut on voir la suite de l'interview ??

[@marilynmonroevideoarchives]

I believe this aired on August 1st 1962.

[@bwrobeson]

Just days before MM died???

[@homiekeen23]

She wasn't a natural blonde tho 😅

[@AG-do13]

She was californien blonde. Blond in summer and darker in winter. Nonetheless her hair was bleached.

[@maggiegatsby4577]

...being her drama coach for a considerable time period and, in this interview part, saying nothing about the dramatic art per se, or her protégée's acting, apprentisage, performance, etc., leaves one with an empty taste...

[@MarilynMonroeFanChannel]

Oh could you. Yes please! I can't understand it either. THANKYOU :o))

[@gessicamattos9984]

Please enable video subtitles.

[@auroraveneziacarlislemakea8186]

Is anyone not understanding french or what Natasha Lytess has just said " Marylin n'est été pas belle in English Marylin wasn't Beautiful " no one paid attention. Natasha was an overly possessive person other that that comment the revelations are true.

[@marilynmonroevideoarchives]

lol we get a bit of English out of her!

[@szee8588]

I don't see English subtitle option, wish I could understand what she was saying.

[@אילנהבןאבי]

Wowww

[@evridikinika3901]

Its very hard to characterize her...she tells all these private stories ...so distant..as if like shes playing a role in the theater..with no soul she mimics her so badly...and even if she says she was supporting sh has something so weird and cold ...and that laugh...when she describes Marilyns pain ...its as if she felt inferior and voila!!!!after her death she feels superior..dont get me wrong but it was so painful to watch..human psychology is an abyss ....be ware of the people next to you...the ones you share your most intimate moments of pain and joy.

[@Marilyn123Monroe5]

"Elle était nue tout la journée" oh really?! it appears that everything natasha says is insults to her "Friends" memory No wonder she died of cancer! she was there too

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

Marilyn123Monroe5 Marilyn was still alive when Natasha did this interview, idiot.

[@a1migdaliareportandomiami666]

MARILYN MONROE Y NATASHA LITESS AMOR ETERNO DEL CIELO A LA TIERRA JUNTAS SEGUNDA REENCARNACION....DIOS BENDIGA LOS PUROS DE CORAZON EN LA TIERRA Y EN LOS CIELOS...AMEN❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@Superbiam-1]

Eran novias? 😳

[@violetacorazon2452]

@@Superbiam-1 en los comentarios de abajo dice. Que Natasha estaba enamorada de Marilyn pero jamás tuvieron algo por qué Marilyn no tuvo interés Romantico ni sexual solo Natasha

[@marilynmonroevideoarchives]

Can anyone translate this?

[@fhuggh2424]

Je peux transcrire le texte en français il suffira copier coller le texte et le trduire via google traduction.

[@AirglamGuru]

Not a very nice lady at all. Plus, "she was a natural blonde"?! Whenever?

[@maristella287]

She was born blonde. Is that not being a natural blonde?

[@fhuggh2424]

Elle était rousse auc cheveux épais. Blonde doré quand elle etait enfant.

[@lepetitchat123]

@@maristella287 I thought she was born a brunette

[@krystalvigil7806]

Can anyone translate this? Or guide me in the right direction? Thanks!

[@Anton-fw2wb]

She hated sex!!! Really? And when she stated that we are basically sexual creatures?

[@MiamiPush2theLimit]

Anton Dionyso she did. She wrote that she finally had an orgasm when she was in her 30s.

[@dulcemoutinho1651]

That dont means she liked it

[@mimosa27]

Well, it's common for survivors of childhood sexual abuse to dislike sex.

[@izaurabiancarcderezende6113]

Marilyn Monroe had problems with sex. She faked orgasms and never felt really horny. When she said we are all sexual creatures, it doesn't mean that humans are free from sexual problems.

[@acastrohowell]

Marilyn spoke French?

[@acastrohowell]

I don’t know what’s she is saying 😳

[@doloresgabarrijimenez7395]

Español por favor

[@dashabc5528]

Elle n'était pas jolie et très timide ( not pretty and very shy ) le visage d'une enfant ( a child's face et le corps d'une femme

[@speakyourtruth7872]

English caption please damn, what is she saying?, really?

[@Dreamskater100]

A couple of commentators have translated here for us. (Why so aggressive & expectant? We live in a world of different languages. This lady was french).

[@Halo-li8hg]

We we