At the time of Marilyn Monroe's visit to England for the filming of The Prince And The Showgirl in 1956, Monroe and Jack Cardiff had been friends for some time. During one of their many discussions about art, Cardiff suggested that he photograph Monroe in the style of a Renoir girl. The photo session took place at the house in which Monroe and her new husband Arthur Miller were staying in England, Parkside House, Englefield Green, Surrey. Cardiff recalls arriving in the morning to be greeted by Arthur Miller who suggested breakfast and a game of tennis whilst they waited for Marilyn to get up. By six o'clock that evening she was ready.

In a career spanning over eighty years, starting in 1918 with an acting role in My Son, My Son at the tender age of four, Jack Cardiff's work in the film industry has been widely acclaimed. He has received numerous awards including an Academy Award in 1948 for Best Cinematography for Black Narcissus.