Hollywood blonde Marilyn Monroe has Highland roots, researchers claim.

The film star is descended from a Ross-shire soldier exiled to America after the Civil War, according to investigators from Clan Munro USA.

The society is sponsoring free DNA tests for Munro men in an attempt to find any living Scottish relatives.

Monroe was born Norma Jeane Mortenson and took her stage name from her mother Gladys Pearl Monroe.

The Some Like it Hot actress would have been 90 this week.

Her Highland ancestor may have been a Royalist soldier sold into slavery in the Americas after Charles II was defeated by Oliver Cromwell in 1651.

Among seven men shipped to Boston in November 1651 were four men named Munro, including John Munro from Tain.

Recent tests on a relative of the film star found the same signature Y-chromosome pattern as in men who trace their ancestry to John Munro.

Mark Monroe, from Texas, said: "Like all clans, Munro men - however they spell the name - have a mix of male genetic lines.

"Last year, we found that many Scots Munros are related to US President James Monroe.

"Descendants of John also form a large genetic group in present-day America and it would be good to find their relatives among present-day Scots men."