Li-Lo: I don't want to be a 'celebrity'

Lindsay Lohan wants to be remembered for her talent, not her problems.

The troubled actress – who has had several stints in rehab and a string of legal problems, most recently serving 35 days house arrest after breaching probation by stealing a necklace – insists she doesn’t want to be a “celebrity” and believes people no longer view her as a “real person”.

Comparing herself to late screen icon Marilyn Monroe, she said: “People in their mind have created who I am and act as if there is no real person inside of me. Just like Marilyn.

“Marilyn never wanted to be just a celebrity. Neither do I.

“I had always thought that movie stars were in films that would last forever in your mind. But now the films don’t. I don’t want to be remembered as someone who just wanted to be photographed, who goes out at night, and gets in trouble.

“Heath Ledger once said to me, 'It’s built you up to knock you down’ and that’s all it is. “Marilyn said she had no foundation. But she said she was really working on it. I’ve been trying to do the same thing. I believe in myself and I’m a good actress.”

Lindsay, 25, says she has always identified with Marilyn – who died in 1962 at the age of 36 – and says the blonde beauty inspired her to always want to appear strong and in control.

In a foreword for Susan Bernard’s new book ‘Marilyn: Intimate Exposures’ she wrote: “Marilyn was the beautiful bad girl in that tight, rose dress. The character she played was strong and taking control, which I unconsciously knew at that young age [12] was a necessary quality for a woman.”

Lindsay writes. “I can understand the photographer [Bruno] Bernard of Hollywood’s statement, 'It took a superhuman effort to be Marilyn.’ I identify."