Greta Garbo

Early Life

Greta Garbo, born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson on September 18, 1905, in Stockholm, Sweden, was the youngest of three children. Her father, Karl Alfred Gustafsson, worked as a laborer and later as a street cleaner, while her mother, Anna Lovisa, worked in a jam factory. Garbo's childhood was marked by poverty and hardship, but she found solace in the world of make-believe and film.

A black and white photograph of a Stockholm street in the early 20th century.

Career in Sweden

Garbo's acting career began in Sweden, where she studied at the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school. She made her film debut in the Swedish film, "Peter the Tramp" in 1922. Her performance caught the attention of director Mauritz Stiller, who became her mentor and helped her land a role in the successful film, "The Saga of Gosta Berling" in 1924.

Hollywood Career

In 1925, Garbo moved to Hollywood at the invitation of Louis B. Mayer, the head of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM). Her first American film was "The Torrent" in 1926. Despite initial struggles with the English language and American culture, Garbo quickly became a major star in the silent film era, known for her expressive face and naturalistic acting style.

A black and white photograph of a Hollywood film set in the 1920s.

Transition to Talkies

With the advent of sound in film, many silent film stars struggled to make the transition. However, Garbo's first talking film, "Anna Christie" in 1930, was a critical and commercial success. Her husky, accented voice became one of her trademarks, and she continued to star in successful films throughout the 1930s.

Retirement and Later Life

In 1941, after the commercial failure of her film "Two-Faced Woman", Garbo decided to retire from acting. She lived the rest of her life in relative seclusion in New York City, avoiding public appearances and interviews. She passed away on April 15, 1990.

A black and white photograph of a New York City street in the 1940s.

Legacy

Garbo's impact on film and popular culture is significant. She was known for her beauty, her talent, and her enigmatic persona, both on and off screen. She was nominated for four Academy Awards and received an honorary award in 1954 for her "unforgettable screen performances". In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked her as the fifth greatest female star of classic Hollywood cinema.