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."
sections: Celebrities