LIFE has released new photos today of Marilyn Monroe -- on what would have been the starlet's 83rd birthday. The 1950 images were photographed by Ed Clark; the never-before-published negatives were discovered in LIFE's effort to digitize its vast archive.

Marilyn Monroe

    Portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. She wears a light-colored shirt upon which is embroidered the letters "MM.'

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Low-angle portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. Dressed in a light-colored shirt upon which is embroidered the letters "MM,' she stands with her hands behind her back.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Low-angle portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. Dressed in a shorts and light-colored shirt, she stands with her hands on her hips and her legs astride a pair of rocks on either side of a very small waterfall.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. Dressed in shorts and a bikini top, she lies back on a wooden bench and reads a script.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Low-angle portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. She wears a light-colored shirt and leans against a tree.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. Dressed in a shorts and light-colored shirt, she stands partially obscured by branches.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. Dressed in a bikini top, she sits on a wooden bench with a script open in her hands.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. Dressed in a shorts and light-colored shirt, she stands tiptoe and leans over a wooden bridge railing.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. Dressed in a shorts and light-colored shirt upon which is embroidered the letters "MM,' she walks around the edge of pool of water atop a very small waterfall.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images

    Portrait of American actress Marilyn Monroe (1926 - 1962) at a photo shoot in Griffith Park, Los Angeles, California, August 1950. Dressed in a light colored shirt, she adjusts her hair with one hand.

    Ed Clark, Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images



Check out the black-and-white images of the fresh-faced style-icon-in-training above, taken in 1950. We love the natural influences -- the creek, the sunlight peeking through the leaves -- and simple, straight-on shots. She looks so young and innocent, you'd guess she was still "Norma Jean," but the her monogrammed "MM" shirt indicates otherwise. (Plus, those high-waisted shorts are to die for.)