Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo (September 18, 1905 - April 15, 1990) wasSwedish actress.
Garbo in1920s
When Greta was fourteen, her father died. Consequently, she was forcedleave schoolgowork. Her first job was aslather girl inbarbershop. She then becameclerk indepartment store, where she would also modelnewspaper ads.
Her first film aspirations came when she appearedan advertising short fordepartment store where she worked. That ledanother short film, which was seen by comedy director Eric Petscher. He cast her insmall part formovie Peter The Tramp (1920).
From 19221924, she studied atprestigious Royal Dramatic TheatreStockholm. While she was there, she metSwedish director Mauritz Stiller. He trained hercinema acting techniquecast her inmajor roleGösta Berlings Saga (1924) (English: The StoryGösta Berling). He also gave herstage name Greta Garbo. She starredtwo filmsSwedenoneGermany.
When Stiller went toUnited States1925workMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer, he insisted that Garbo be givencontract as well. But their relationship camean end as her fame grew. He was fired by MGMreturnedSweden1928, where he died soon after.
The most importantGarbo's silent films were The Torrent (1926), Flesh andDevil (1927)Love (1927). The latter two she starredwithpopular leading man John Gilbert. Her name was linkedhim inmuch publicized romance,she was saidhave left him standing atalter when she changed her mind about getting married.
Having achieved enormous success assilent movie star, she was one offew who madetransitiontalkies. Her low, husky voiceSwedish accent was heard on screen forfirst timeAnna Christie (1930), which was publicized withslogan "Garbo Talks." The film washuge success, but Garbo personally hated her performance.
Unfortunately, her one-time fiancé, John Gilbert, whose popularity was waning, did not fair as well afteradventsound filmshis career faltered.
When she was filming, if something happened that she was not pleasedshe would say, "I think I'll go backSweden!" This would frightenstudio heads, who gave inher every wish. She was knownalways havingclosed setall visitors. No one could watch as her scenes were shot.
Garbo appeared very seductive asWorld War I spy intitle roleMata Hari (1932). The censors complained about her revealing outfit shown onmovie poster. She was next partan all star castGrand Hotel (1932).
She then hadcontract disputeMGMdid not appear onscreenalmost two years. They finally settledshe signednew contract, which granted her almost total control over her films. She exercised that control by getting her leading man, Laurence Olivier, replaced on Queen Christina (1934)former costar John Gilbert.
David O. Selznick wanted her cast asdying heiressDark Victory1935, but she insisted on being castanother screen versionLeo Tolstoy's classic novel Anna Karenina. She had madesilent version, Love,John Gilbert(1927).
Garbo's performance asdoomed courtesanCamille (1937) was calledfinest ever recorded on film. She then starred opposite Melvyn Douglas incomedy Ninotchka (1939) by director Ernst Lubitsch, which was publicized withslogan "Garbo Laughs."
She was nominated forAcademy AwardBest ActressAnna Christie (1930), Romance (1930), Camille (1937)Ninotchka (1939).
Greta Garbo was considered one ofmost glamorous movie stars of1920s1930s.
She was also famousshunning publicity, which became part ofGarbo mystique. Her famous byline was "I vantbe alone." Except atvery beginningher career, she granted no interviews, signed no autographs, attended no premieres,answered no fan mail.
After her film Two-Faced Woman (1941) failed atbox office, Garbo retired atheighther success, never againfacecamera. She withdrew fromentertainment world completelymoved tosecluded lifeNew York City, thereafter refusingmake any public appearances.
By her own admission, she felt that after World War IIworld changed perhaps forever. Her films, she felt, had their proper placehistorywould gainvalue.
In 1951, she became an American citizen. She was awardedspecial Academy Awardunforgettable performances1954.
Inmid 1950s, she boughtseven room apartmentNew York City at 450 East 52nd Street, where she lived forresther life.
She would at times jet-setsome ofworld's best known personalities, such as Aristotle Onassisothers, but choseliveprivate life. She spent time gardening flowersvegetableswas knowntaking walks through New York City streets dressed casuallywearing large sunglasses, always avoiding prying eyes,paparazzi,media attention.
She livedlast yearsher lifeabsolute seclusion. She had invested wisely, was knownextreme frugality,wasvery wealthy woman. In 1990, she wrote an autobiography.
She died atageeighty-fourNew York Citywas cremated. Her ashes were buried at Skogskyrkogården CemeteryStockholm, Sweden.
Greta Garbo hasstar onHollywood WalkFame at 6901 Hollywood Boulevard.
