So, I suppose the first question is how are you? Assuming that it isn’t a redundant question.

Not at all. I feel fine. To tell you the truth, nothing much changes from before. You still feel everything you felt before. After all, it’s what makes a person, your emotions.  Without them, you’re kinda nothing at all. So, what you were before, you still are. But all the rough edges are sorta taken off. Does that make sense?

Without going into the religious aspect too much. Is it Heaven? Have you seen God?

Heaven’s what you make it, if you want to call it Heaven. It’s not like you’re taught at school. Let’s face it, no one can know what’s out there, so it’s all guesswork until it happens to you. It’s another state of mind really. It’s whatever you want. Some people prefer the green fields and flowing rivers, others prefer a city bar and a shot of bourbon. Me, I like both and that’s the beauty, afterlife’s what you make it! (Giggles).

So let’s get this out of the way, once and for all. August 5th 1962. What really happened?

Oh God, Here we go. I knew this would come up. OK. So let’s get it straight. You can’t help laughing at all the conspiracy theories. To be honest, if you didn’t, you’d cry. I’ve seen it so many times since. Jack in Dallas, Elvis, even your Lady Diana. It just seems like when certain people die, other people can’t accept accidents and have to put a different meaning to it. I don’t know, maybe because their grief demands it. It makes people less mortal, less weak if there’s something else behind it. Of course, Jack was murdered, but people are still tying themselves up in knots over the hows and whys.

So OK, who did shoot JFK?

Who do you think? Oswald was apparently on the sixth floor (of the Texas School Book Depository in Dallas). The first shot hit Jack in the back and came out through his neck. That’s not a shot from high up. Same with the second hit. (Governor John) Connally was shot in the back too and the bullet came out of his chest. The third got Jack in the head. Oswald didn’t make the shot. Wrong place. Plus he just didn’t have the skill. For the third shot to kill Jack and miss Jackie? That’s a trained marksman. CIA. They weren’t happy with Jack’s reforms. Bang.

And getting back to you in ‘62? You must be aware that there’s talk the CIA were involved.

Ha! I think they barely noticed me in a political sense. If anything, I provided them with a convenient distraction. While Jack’s with me, they’re free to carry on while the focus is elsewhere. Listen, I’m not proud of it, but the Kennedys were great people. Jackie knew Jack had a weakness for women. And let’s face it, I wasn’t the first or last. You’ve got the most powerful man in the world paying you attention? You’d have to be as hard as steel not to have your head turned.

Truth is, I really wasn’t well. You’re supposed to be a world-famous actress, adored by millions. But honestly? It’s surprisingly lonely. No one really wants you to be yourself. There’s Marilyn and there’s Norma Jeane. When the door closes, it’s just Norma Jeane.

I know it’s a cliché, but you really do suspect everyone’s motives for trying to get near you. They may be crazy, they may think they really love you, but it’s the image they see on film they love. You’ve met people in the industry. Their public persona is nothing like the people they really are in most cases.

The Misfits was so tough. I was drinking, drinking too much really. I wasn’t sleeping and the doctors were putting me on more and more drugs. It wasn’t good for me, but, you know, you think they know what they’re doing and you’re gonna get through it. And things’ll get better in time. There just wasn’t that much time for me, I guess.

When (Clark) Gable died just days after we wrapped, I felt kinda responsible. I hadn’t been at my best during the whole thing and I confess I went AWOL a couple of times. His wife Kay didn’t blame me, of course, but I could have made things easier, I suppose.

It was Something’s Got To Give that was a step too far really. It makes me laugh that the conspiracy nuts don’t really notice how appropriate the title was. I’d done the nude scenes in the pool, which they sold to Life magazine as publicity and then, of course, sang to Jack on his birthday.

I was exhausted, but the production sacked me ‘cos I missed so many days of shooting. I could’ve lived with that, although it was a blow, but next thing Fox are suing me for half a million bucks.

Let’s be honest. If I was gonna kill myself that would’ve been the time. But we eventually sorted it all out and I even had the two-picture deal in the bag. But yeah, it affected me. Who wouldn’t’ve found it tough? And you can see from the pics I did with (Bruce) Stern, I’d lost so much weight.

But what did it was simply a medical mistake. Dr. (Ralph) Greenson had given me an enema to help me sleep, because I was having trouble coming off the barbiturates. But (Doctor Hyman) Engelberg had given me more Nembutal the day before. From what I understand now, I had enough Nembutal in my system that it reacted with the chloral hydrate I’d been taking.

It was all very quick. I chatted to Joe (DiMaggio) around 7pm, but when Peter (Lawford) called about 30 minutes later, it felt like I was drunk. I figured the tablets were making me woozy, so got into bed. And, well, “That’s all Folks!” I just wasn’t strong enough any more.

So you would have made more films?

Of course. Like I said, I had a contract literally worth a million dollars and Something’s Got To Give was due to start filming again in the Fall. And there were other offers on the table, giving me more control. It would perhaps have been a springboard for other things. I was trying to get my head sorted and was ready for it this time around.

So how do you think your later career would’ve gone?

Hmm. I don’t know really. Let’s be honest. I was never going to be one of those character actresses. I truthfully wasn’t good enough. I mean, I reckon I had more to me than the kooky blonde, and that would have been difficult to carry off as I got older.

I would have liked to have done some more serious roles, perhaps as the mom, but I could see myself ending up as the kooky granny instead on the odd film or TV sit-com. Or maybe having a cat sanctuary like Bardot. (Laughs).

Some Like It Hot has been voted the greatest American film comedy of all time by The American Film Institute. What does that mean to you?

I’m very, very proud of Some Like It Hot. It was one of those films where everything comes together, you know? I mean Billy Wilder was superb, but it’s really Jack (Lemmon) and Joe (E. Brown) who steal the show. Jack was at the top of his game and Joe just played Osgood so well. This complete unawareness of everything’s that going on around him. He just has eyes for Daphne without taking in that she’s really this strapping guy. It’s hilarious.

Tony Curtis said that kissing you in that film was like kissing Hitler. What do you think about that?

That’s just typical of Tony. We knew each other from before, of course, and had a little fling when we were younger. He denies saying it, but it was actually a bit of an aside to the film crew. I reckon he was just trying to spare their feelings. (Laughs). He enjoyed it, at least in the early takes. There are some things a man just can’t hide! (Giggles).

Are you surprised about just how iconic you’ve become? Frankly, you are probably just about the most famous woman in the world.

Amazed. Completely, utterly amazed. I mean I was lucky enough to be around at the right time and grab the public’s attention. And, of course, I had famous men around, Joe and Jack were both American legends even then. But as I said before, I was never the best actress. I had no illusions about it, so to have books still written about me. You’d think they’d be nothing left to say and now here you are too. Talking about it almost 50 years later. It just goes to show.

Had I lived, I reckon there’s no way I would have had the same recognition. But suddenly dying at 36, I suppose all that unfulfilled potential, unfulfilled life, you could say, just grabs people. You become a sort of instant legend.

And what are your thoughts on the film industry today?

Truthfully? It doesn’t change much. Of course, the special effects are just out of this world. You can do so much more, so there are other areas of films that are opened up to actors, directors and writers.

But movie actors are still among the most overpaid people on the planet.

The quality doesn’t change either. There are so many great films, but people are still making appalling movies too. Except that they’re no longer called ‘B’ Movies. Instead, Joe Public forks out and don’t realise they’re likely to see something that’s honestly garbage until it’s too late.

I suppose the big difference now is that the studio thing has gone. It used to be that stars had to dress like stars whenever they went out. To keep that illusion that we were almost untouchable for ‘normal’ people. To keep that distance and sense of wonder so people want to see the movies. We were abnormal in that sense. We were always acting in a way, even when off-camera. Nowadays, movie stars go on holiday and there’ll always be someone with a camera waiting to get a shot of their boobs or saggy chin or whatever.

And people try so much now just to be famous, without really thinking how or why or even what it means. And they want it instantly. People should remember that fame is fleeting. It soon goes, sometimes before you know it. Like life. Trust me, I know.