Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo

Name	Greta Garbo
Birth name
Birth date	(1905-09-18)18 September 1905
Birth place	Stockholm, Sweden
Death date	15 April 1990(1990-04-15) (aged 84)
Death place	New York City, U.S.
Alma mater
Occupation	Actress
Years active	1920–1941
Organization
Known for
Notable works
Spouse(s)
Website

Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress, known for her melancholic, somber persona, and her subtle and understated performances. She was one of the most glamorous and popular motion-picture stars of the 1920s and 1930s.

Early Life

Greta Garbo was born in Stockholm, Sweden, to a working-class family. Her father, Karl Alfred Gustafsson, was a laborer, and her mother, Anna Lovisa, worked at a jam factory. Garbo was the youngest of three children. Her early life was marked by poverty, and she left school at the age of 13 to help support her family.

Career

Garbo began her career in the Swedish film industry, where she was discovered by director Mauritz Stiller. Stiller cast her in the lead role of his film Gösta Berlings saga (1924), which brought her to the attention of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) in Hollywood.

Silent Film Era

Garbo's first film for MGM was Torrent (1926), which was a success and established her as a major star. She quickly became known for her beauty and her ability to convey complex emotions without dialogue. Her other notable silent films include Flesh and the Devil (1926) and The Mysterious Lady (1928).

Transition to Sound

With the advent of sound in cinema, many silent film stars struggled to adapt, but Garbo made a successful transition. Her first sound film, Anna Christie (1930), was a critical and commercial success, and her first line, "Give me a whisky, ginger ale on the side, and don't be stingy, baby," became famous.

Notable Films

Garbo's most famous films include Grand Hotel (1932), Queen Christina (1933), Anna Karenina (1935), and Camille (1936). Her performance in Ninotchka (1939), a comedy directed by Ernst Lubitsch, showcased her versatility and earned her an Academy Award nomination.

Personal Life

Garbo was known for her reclusive nature and her desire for privacy. She never married and had no children. Her personal life was the subject of much speculation, but she remained enigmatic and rarely gave interviews.

Retirement

In 1941, after the release of Two-Faced Woman, Garbo retired from acting at the age of 36. She lived the rest of her life in relative seclusion, primarily in New York City, and made few public appearances.

Legacy

Garbo is remembered as one of the greatest actresses of all time. Her performances have been praised for their depth and subtlety, and she remains an icon of classic Hollywood cinema. In 1954, she was awarded an honorary Academy Award for her "unforgettable screen performances."

Also see

• Silent film
• Hollywood Golden Age
• Academy Awards
• Swedish cinema