- Marilyn Monroe: Little girls should be told how pretty they are. They should grow up knowing how much their mother loves them.
- [last lines]
- Colin Clark: Here's what I remember most: her embrace. Her belief in me. And the joy she gave. That was her gift. When I think of her now, I think of that time when a dream came true. And my only talent was not to close my eyes.
- Marilyn Monroe: Do you know I've been married three times already? How did that happen?
- Colin Clark: You were just looking for the right man.
- Marilyn Monroe: They always look right at the start.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Marilyn, my darling, you are an angel and I kiss the hem of your garment but why can't you get here on time for the love of FUCK?
- Marilyn Monroe: Oh, you have that word in England too, ha?
- Sir Laurence Olivier: She's quite wonderful. No training, no craft, no guile, just pure instinct. Astonishing.
- Colin Clark: You should tell her that.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Oh, I will. But she won't believe me. That's probably what makes her great, yet it's certainly what makes her so profoundly unhappy.
- Arthur Jacobs: Marilyn, is it true you wear nothing in bed but Perfume?
- Marilyn Monroe: Darling, as I'm in England let's say I sleep in nothing but Yardley's lavender.
- Marilyn Monroe: All people ever see is Marilyn Monroe. As soon as they realize I'm not her, they run.
- Colin Clark: It's agony because he's a great actor who wants to be a film star, and you're a film star who wants to be a great actress. This film won't help either of you.
- Marilyn Monroe: I want this to be the perfect date. I haven't had a real date since I was 13 years old.
- Vivien Leigh: [to Colin] Oh, don't be such a boy, I'm 43 darling. No one will love me for very much longer. Not even you.
- Milton Greene: Listen, kid, I've known Marilyn for seven years. I fell in love with her, just as you've done. We had 10 days together and that was it. She picked me up. She put me down. That's what she does, she breaks hearts. She will break yours. My advice to you is quit before you get burned.
- Colin Clark: I don't need your advice.
- Colin Clark: Everyone remembers their first job. This is the story of mine. I was the youngest in a family of overachievers. My father was a world-famous art historian, and my brother was ahead of me in everything. I was always the disappointment.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: [reciting while images of Marilyn play] You do look, my son, in a moved sort, as if you were dismayed. Be cheerful, sir. Our revels new are ended. We are such stuff as dreams are made on, and our little life is rounded with a sleep.
- Colin Clark: Prospero.
- Colin Clark: You're right, we have to forget all this. From now on I am just the third assistant director and we will never look at each other again.
- Marilyn Monroe: Maybe just a wink... once in a while.
- Colin Clark: [He looks at her, smiles a small sad smile and leaves]
- Colin Clark: Let me protect you from all this.
- Marilyn Monroe: What are you gonna do? Marry me?
- Colin Clark: Why not? You could quit this. Forget Marilyn Monroe. Forget Hollywood. Let it all go. Just let it go.
- Marilyn Monroe: I couldn't just give it up.
- Colin Clark: Why not? Why not when it drives you crazy?
- Marilyn Monroe: You think I'm crazy?
- Colin Clark: I just meant you could be happy.
- Marilyn Monroe: I am happy.
- Colin Clark: ...Of course you're happy. You're the biggest star in the world.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: I think directing a movie is the best job ever created, but Marilyn has cured me of ever wanting to do it again.
- Dame Sybil Thorndike: She should use more mascara. When one is young, one should use a lot of mascara. When one is old, they should use much more.
- [first lines]
- Title Card: In 1956, at the height of her career, Marilyn Monroe went to England to make a film with Sir Laurence Olivier. While there she met a young man named Colin Clark, who wrote a diary about the making of the film. This is their true story.
- Paula Strasberg: We're talking about the difference between the truth and artificial crap.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: We're in absolute agreement. Acting is all about truth, and if you can fake that, you'll have a jolly good career.
- Vivien Leigh: I didn't think she would be so beautiful. Oh, she *shines* on that screen.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Oh, darling. Puss, don't upset yourself. You are ten times the actress she will ever be.
- Vivien Leigh: Oh, if you could see yourself. The way you watch her.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Oh, poor thing, you're imagining things.
- Vivien Leigh: I hope she makes your life hell.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: I thought working with Marilyn would make me feel young again. But I look dead in the rushes. Dead behind the eyes. I wanted to renew myself through her but all I see reflected in that magnificent face is my own inadequacy. You know, I admire Marilyn. I really do. Despite her behavior. She has taken everything Hollywood can throw at her and triumphed. That takes some bloody guts. An actress has to be pretty tough to get even a tenth as far as she has.
- Marilyn Monroe: Oh, I didn't know it was so pretty out here.
- Colin Clark: You should get out more. You should see the sights.
- Marilyn Monroe: Oh, I am the sights.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: You in the union?
- Colin Clark: No.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Then you can't have a job on the film.
- Colin Clark: Well, how do I get into the union?
- Sir Laurence Olivier: By getting a job on the film. It's called a closed shop.
- Lucy: Look, I have two rules.
- Colin Clark: Everyone has a lot of rules around here.
- Lucy: One, never touch the talent, and two, never go out with thirds.
- Colin Clark: Why not?
- Lucy: Because they're all randy little buggers who just want some fun during shooting.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Christ! Pills to sleep, pills to wake up. Pills to calm her down, pills to give her energy. No wonder she's permanently ten feet underwater.
- Colin Clark: Maybe she's scared.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: We're all scared. I spent half of my professional life in abject bloody terror! It's what actors do!
- Colin Clark: But you have the training to deal with it.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Oh, I wouldn't buy the little girl lost act if I were you. Though heaven knows it's tempting.
- Vivien Leigh: Larry tells me you are quite, quite superb. I am wild with jealousy.
- Marilyn Monroe: But everyone says you were a wonderful Elsie on stage.
- Vivien Leigh: Oh, but I'm too old to play her in the film. Larry was quite brutal about that. You see, the truth is all that matters to him. And that's why we all admire him so very much.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Why not simply rely on your natural talents?
- Marilyn Monroe: So then are you saying you don't want me to act?
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Marilyn, will you just try to be sexy. Isn't that what you do?
- Marilyn Monroe: Alright, boys. Work hard. I don't want anyone whipping you.
- Schoolboy #2: You can whip me anytime, Marilyn.
- Marilyn Monroe: Ooooo!
- Colin Clark: I booked a room.
- Barry: Alright. Here we are. Sign this. What brings you up this way?
- Colin Clark: I'm working on a film with Pinewood.
- Barry: Oh, what film's that?
- Colin Clark: It's called, "The Sleeping Prince" with Sir Laurence Olivier and Marilyn Monroe. So, I'll be working with them.
- Barry: Room: three quid a week. First week in advance. Number two. And, if you don't mind, you'll be sharing with Grace Kelly.
- Colin Clark: Marilyn, do one thing for me: Come to the set on time tomorrow and show everyone what you can do. Show Larry that you're a great actress.
- Colin Clark: [voiceover] Alfred Hitchcock, Orson Welles, Laurence Olivier, these were my heroes. I wanted to be a part of their world.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: It's only a readthrough, Paula.
- Paula Strasberg: Marilyn has to begin finding the character.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Oh, the character is on the page.
- Paula Strasberg: The words, maybe. Not the character.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: What are you doing here?
- Colin Clark: You said there might be a job on your film.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: Have a cigarette. Keep the pack.
- Colin Clark: Thank you, sir.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: There won't be a film unless Miss Monroe gets her *splendid* posterior out of bed.
- Vanessa: You're very determined.
- Colin Clark: I'd do anything to be in the film business.
- Vanessa: Anything?
- Hugh Perceval: The House Committee is threatening to withhold Miller's passport. They say he's a Communist. No Arthur. No Marilyn.
- Sir Laurence Olivier: I'll have a word with the American Ambassador. I'm taking him to see Vivian's play on Thursday.
- Dame Sybil Thorndike: How exciting! Don't you love the first day of a new production?
- Colin Clark: I don't know, Dame Sybil. I've never had one before.
- Dame Sybil Thorndike: Oh, to be young again!