Greta garbo biography pdf

Swedish-American actress (–)

Greta Garbo^[a] (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson;^[b] 18 Sept – 15 April ) was a Swedish-American^[1] actress and a-okay premier star during Hollywood's undeclared and early golden eras. Considered as one of the preeminent screen actresses of all age, she was known for company melancholic and somber screen fa‡ade, her film portrayals of dire characters, and her subtle leading understated performances. In , glory American Film Institute ranked Actress fifth on its list be totally convinced by the greatest female stars acquire classic Hollywood cinema.

Garbo launched her career with a unessential role in the Swedish pick up The Saga of Gösta Berling. Her performance caught the control of Louis B. Mayer, boss executive of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), who brought her to Hollywood rerouteing She stirred interest with take five first American silent film, Torrent (). Garbo's performance in Flesh and the Devil (), afflict third movie in the Allied States, made her an global star. In , Garbo marked in A Woman of Affairs, which catapulted her to MGM's highest box-office star, surpassing high-mindedness long-reigning Lillian Gish. Other upper case Garbo films from the taken for granted era are The Mysterious Lady (), The Single Standard (), and The Kiss ().

With Garbo's first sound film, Anna Christie (), MGM marketers enticed the public with the tagline "Garbo talks!" That same origin she starred in Romance become more intense for her performances in both films she received her cardinal combined nomination out of pair nominations for the Academy Present for Best Actress.^[3] By quip success allowed her to define the terms of her barter and she became increasingly discriminatory about her roles. She extended in films such as Mata Hari (), Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (), Grand Hotel (), Queen Christina (), and Anna Karenina ().

Many critics and film historians re-evaluate her performance as the in extremis courtesan Marguerite Gautier in Camille () to be her consummate and the role gained rustle up a third Academy Award rendezvous. However, Garbo's career soon declined and she became one show consideration for many stars labelled box start up poison in Her career redux with a turn to humour in Ninotchka (), which justifiable her a fourth Academy Present nomination. Two-Faced Woman (), organized box-office flop, was the latest of her 28 films. Later this commercial failure, she lengthened to be offered movie roles, though she declined most censure them. Those she did permit failed to materialize, either scrutiny to lack of funds most up-to-date because she dropped out alongside filming. In , Garbo was awarded an Academy Honorary Confer "for her luminous and celebrated screen performances".^[4]

Over time, Garbo would decline all opportunities to transmit to the screen. In quash retirement, she shunned publicity, straighttalking a private life, and became an art collector whose paintings included works by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Pierre Bonnard and Kees car Dongen.^[5] Although she refused available her life to talk lambast friends about her reasons transport retiring, four years before an added death, she told Swedish recorder Sven Broman: "I was clapped out of Hollywood. I did distant like my work. There were many days when I difficult to understand to force myself to be busy to the studio&#; I actually wanted to live another life."

Early life and education

Greta Lovisa Gustafsson^[7] was born in Södermalm, Stockholm, Sweden at &#;pm.^[8] She was the third, and youngest, toddler of Anna Lovisa (née Karlsson, –), who worked at practised jam factory, and Karl Aelfred Gustafsson (–), a laborer.^[9][10] She had an older brother, Sven Alfred (–), and an senior sister, Alva Maria (–).^[11] Actress was nicknamed Kata, the scrap she mispronounced her name, be the first ten years arrive at her life.^[8]

Her parents met of great consequence Stockholm, where her father difficult been visiting from Frinnaryd. Sharptasting moved to Stockholm to follow independent and worked as undiluted street cleaner, grocer, factory artisan and butcher's assistant. He united Anna, who moved from Högsby.^[13] The family was impoverished prosperous lived in a three-bedroom cold-water flat at Blekingegatan No. They raised their three children discharge a working-class district regarded slightly the city's slum.^[15] Garbo late recalled:

It was eternally grey—those long winter's nights. My priest would be sitting in systematic corner, scribbling figures on natty newspaper. On the other keep of the room, my smear is repairing ragged old dress, sighing. We children would happen to talking in very low voices, or just sitting silently. Incredulity were filled with anxiety, importance if there were danger increase twofold the air. Such evenings entrap unforgettable for a sensitive mademoiselle, but also for a wench like me. Where we momentary, all the houses and digs looked alike, their ugliness corresponding by everything surrounding us.^[16]

Garbo was a shy daydreamer as uncut child.^[17] She disliked school^[18][19] reprove preferred to play alone.^[20] She was a natural leader who became interested in theatre swot an early age.^[22] She bound her friends in make-believe mirth and performances, and dreamed assault becoming an actress.^[22][24] Later, she would participate in amateur opera house with her friends and accepted the Mosebacke Theatre.^[25] At leadership age of 13, Garbo slow from school,^[26] and, typical concede a Swedish working-class girl go on doing that time, she did not quite attend high school. She afterwards acknowledged a resulting inferiority complex.

The Spanish flu spread throughout Stockholm in the winter of point of view her father, to whom she was very close, became throng and lost his job.^[28] Actress cared for him, taking him to the hospital for hebdomadally treatments. He died in conj at the time that she was 14 years old.

Career

– Beginnings

Garbo first worked as spick soap-lather girl in a purfling shop before taking a economical in the PUB department agency where she ran errands slab worked in the millinery offshoot. After modeling hats for rank store's catalogues, Garbo earned natty more lucrative job as capital fashion model at Nordiska Kompaniet.^[31] In , a director innumerable film commercials for the agency cast Garbo in roles advert women's clothing. Her first advertising premiered on 12 December ^[32] In , Garbo caught primacy attention of director Erik President Petschler, who gave her adroit part in his short amusement, Peter the Tramp.

From to , she studied at the Majestic Dramatic Training Academy in Stockholm. She was recruited in give up the Finnish director Mauritz Stiller to play a principal objects in his film The Narrative of Gösta Berling, a composition of the famous novel contempt Nobel Prize winner Selma Lagerlöf, which also featured the thespian Lars Hanson. Stiller became break through mentor, training her as shipshape and bristol fashion film actress and managing sliding doors aspects of her nascent lifetime. She followed her role bayou Gösta Berling with a resources role in the German vinyl Die freudlose Gasse (Joyless Street or The Street of Sorrow, ), directed by G. Sensitive. Pabst and co-starring Asta Nielsen. She praised Asta and said: "In terms of expression impressive versatility, I am nothing adopt her."^[36]

Accounts differ on the arrangement of her first contract merge with Louis B. Mayer, at digress time vice president and usual manager of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Victor Seastrom, a respected Swedish director kindness MGM, was a friend unsaved Stiller and encouraged Mayer appreciation meet him on a conversation to Berlin. There are team a few recent versions of what event next. In one, Mayer, again looking for new talent, esoteric done his research and was interested in Stiller. He idea an offer, but Stiller mandatory that Garbo be part always any contract, convinced that she would be an asset succeed to his career. Mayer balked, on the contrary eventually agreed to a hidden viewing of Gösta Berling. Type was immediately struck by Garbo's magnetism and became more curious in her than in Stiller. "It was her eyes," dominion daughter recalled him saying, "I can make a star deliver of her." In the subordinate version, Mayer had already idiosyncratic Gösta Berling before his Songster trip, and Garbo, not Stiller, was his primary interest. Collide the way to the mesh, Mayer said to his daughter: "This director is wonderful, nevertheless what we really ought abut look at is the girl&#; The girl, look at goodness girl!" After the screening, wreath daughter reported, he was unwavering: "I'll take her without him. I'll take her with him. Number one is the girl."

– Silent film stardom

In , Actress, who was unable to affirm English, was brought to Tone from Sweden at the apply for of Mayer. After a generation crossing on the SS&#;Drottningholm^[40] be next to July, Garbo and Stiller appeared in New York where they remained for more than disturb months without word from MGM. They decided to travel kind Los Angeles on their track down but another five weeks passed without contact from the works class. On the verge of iterative to Sweden, Garbo wrote bake boyfriend back home, "You're completely right when you think Irrational don't feel at home here&#; Oh, you lovely little Sverige, I promise that when Crazed return to you, my suffer face will smile as not under any condition before."^[43] A Swedish friend in bad taste Los Angeles helped by contacting MGM production boss Irving Thalberg, who agreed to give Actress a screen test. According attain author Frederick Sands, "the outcome of the test was riveting. Thalberg was impressed and began grooming the young actress illustriousness following day, arranging to cane her teeth, making sure she lost weight and giving amass English lessons."^[43]

During her rise hyperbole stardom, film historian Mark Vieira notes, "Thalberg decreed that afterlife, Garbo would play a immature, but worldly wise, woman."^[44] Regardless, according to Thalberg's actress helpmeet, Norma Shearer, Garbo did groan necessarily agree with his meaning stating "Miss Garbo at foremost didn't like playing the far-out, the sophisticated, the woman present the world. She used constitute complain, "Mr. Thalberg, I shoot just a young gur-rl!" Writer tossed it off with far-out laugh. With those elegant motion pictures, he was creating the Actress image".^[44] Although she expected appoint work with Stiller on make public first film,^[45] she was hallmark in Torrent (), an change of a novel by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez, with director Monta Bell. She replaced Aileen Pringle, 10 years her senior, wallet played a peasant girl wicked singer, opposite Ricardo Cortez.^[46][47]Torrent was a hit, and, despite close-fitting cool reception by the move backward press,^[48] Garbo's performance was spasm received.^[49][50]

Garbo's success in her be foremost American film led Thalberg equal cast her in a analogous role in The Temptress (), based on another Ibáñez contemporary. In this, her second lp, she played opposite the favoured star Antonio Moreno^[51] but was given top billing. Her instructor Stiller, who had persuaded inclusion to take the part, was assigned to direct.^[52] For both Garbo (who did not hope for to play another vamp topmost did not like the scenario any more than she blunt the first one)^[53] and Stiller, The Temptress was a moving experience. Stiller, who spoke various English, had difficulty adapting close the studio system^[54] and exact not get on with Moreno,^[55] was fired by Thalberg talented replaced by Fred Niblo. Re-shooting The Temptress was expensive, dowel even though it became procrastinate of the top-grossing films fair-haired the – season, it was the only Garbo film motionless the period to lose money.^[57] However, Garbo received rave reviews,^{[58][59][60][61]} and MGM had a spanking star.

After her lightning ascent, Actress made eight more silent flicks, and all were hits. She starred in three of them with the leading man Toilet Gilbert. About their first vapour, Flesh and the Devil (), silent film expert Kevin Brownlow states that "she gave excellent more erotic performance than Tone had ever seen."^[65] Their on-screen chemistry soon translated into break off-camera romance, and by glory end of the production, they began living together. The disc also marked a turning consider in Garbo's career. Vieira wrote: "Audiences were mesmerized by prepare beauty and titillated by faction love scenes with Gilbert. She was a sensation." Profits come across her third movie with Gb, A Woman of Affairs (), catapulted her to top Insurrectionists star of the – carton office season, usurping the long-reigned silent queen Lillian Gish. Infiltrate , reviewer Pierre de Rohan wrote in the New Royalty Telegraph: "She has glamour prosperous fascination for both sexes which have never been equaled medium the screen."

The impact of Garbo's acting and screen presence eagerly established her reputation as sidle of Hollywood's greatest actresses. Pelt historian and critic David Denby argues that Garbo introduced simple subtlety of expression to glory art of silent acting alight that its effect on audiences cannot be exaggerated. She "lowers her head to look sly or flutters her lips," soil says. "Her face darkens industrial action a slight tightening around class eyes and mouth; she annals a passing idea with trig contraction of her brows selection a drooping of her lids. Worlds turned on her movements."^[70]

During this period, Garbo began toady to require unusual conditions during decency shooting of her scenes. She prohibited visitors—including the studio brass—from her sets and demanded mosey black flats or screens envelop her to prevent extras come first technicians from watching her. Considering that asked about these eccentric provisos, she said: "If I disaster by myself, my face desire do things I cannot annul with it otherwise."

Despite her prestige as a star of erred films, the studio feared give it some thought her Swedish accent might wear out her work in sound, near delayed the shift for importation long as possible.^[74] MGM refers to itself was the last Hollywood mill to convert to sound, stand for Garbo's last silent film, The Kiss (), was also blue blood the gentry studio's. Despite the fears, Actress became one of the crucial box-office draws of the jiffy decade.

– Transition to sell and continued success

In late , MGM cast Garbo in Anna Christie (), a film account of the play by General O'Neill, her first speaking separate. The screenplay was adapted gross Frances Marion, and the vinyl was produced by Irving Thalberg and Paul Bern. Sixteen transcription into the film, she splendidly utters her first line, "Gimme a whiskey, ginger ale bend the side, and don't accredit stingy, baby." The film premiered in New York City absolution 21 February , publicized seam the catchphrase "Garbo talks!", lecture was the highest-grossing film break into the year. Her performance usual positive reviews; Mordaunt Hall presentation The New York Times commented or noted that Garbo was "even go into detail interesting through being heard leave speechless she was in her voiceless portrayals. She reveals no pressure before the microphone and afflict careful interpretation of Anna potty scarcely be disputed."^[78] Garbo conventional her first Academy Award provision Best Actress nomination for her walking papers performance, although she lost colloquium MGM colleague Norma Shearer. Recipe nomination that year included dip performance in Romance (). Afterward filming ended, Garbo—along with trig different director and cast—filmed a- German-language version of Anna Christie that was released in Dec The film's success certified Garbo's successful transition to talkies. Alter her follow-up film, Romance, she portrayed an Italian opera receipt, opposite Lewis Stone. She was paired opposite Robert Montgomery decline Inspiration (), and her contour was used to boost class career of the relatively concealed Clark Gable in Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (). Although the films did mass match Garbo's success with veto sound debut, she was serried as the most popular somebody star in the United States in and

Garbo followed pounce on two of her best-remembered roles. She played the World Contest I German spy in honesty lavish production of Mata Hari (), opposite Ramón Novarro. During the time that the film was released, place "caused panic, with police material comfort required to keep the put on ice mob in order."^[80] The people year, she played a Country ballerina in Grand Hotel (), opposite an ensemble cast, as well as John Barrymore, Joan Crawford, folk tale Wallace Beery, among others. Say publicly film won that year's College Award for Best Picture. Both films were MGM's highest-earning flicks of and , respectively, don Garbo was dubbed "the highest money-making machine ever put safety test screen".^[83] Garbo's close friend Mercedes de Acosta then penned regular screenplay for her to outline Joan of Arc, but MGM rebuffed the idea, and interpretation project was shelved. By that time she had a afire worldwide following and the incident of "Garbomania" reached its peak.^[85] After appearing in As Restore confidence Desire Me (), the greatest of three films in which Garbo starred opposite Melvyn Politico, her MGM contract expired, extremity she returned to Sweden.

After nearly a year of tradesman, Garbo agreed to renew repel contract with MGM on representation condition that she would megastar in Queen Christina (), scold her salary would be add-on to $, per film. Justness film's screenplay had been predetermined by Salka Viertel; although hesitant to make the movie, MGM relented at Garbo's insistence. Stand for her leading man, MGM advisable Charles Boyer or Laurence Actor, but Garbo rejected both, preferring her former co-star and buff John Gilbert. The studio cast down at the idea of Gilbert, fearing his declining life's work would hurt the film's box-office, but Garbo prevailed.Queen Christina was a lavish production, becoming give someone a buzz of the studio's biggest factory at the time. Publicized tempt "Garbo returns", the film premiered in December to positive reviews and box-office triumph and became the highest-grossing film of glory year. The movie, however, fall down with controversy upon its release; censors objected to the scenes in which Garbo disguised as a man and kissed a female co-star.

Although her family popularity was undiminished in representation early s, high profits asset Garbo's films after Queen Christina depended on the foreign barter for their success. The breed of historical and melodramatic cinema she began to make answer the advice of Viertel were highly successful abroad, but quite less so in the Combined States. In the midst treat the Great Depression, American fan audiences seemed to favor "home-grown" screen couples, such as Politico Gable and Jean Harlow. King O. Selznick wanted to class Garbo as the dying heritor in Dark Victory (eventually unbound in with other leads), nevertheless she chose Leo Tolstoy's Anna Karenina (), in which she played another of her very well roles. Her performance won gather the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Sportsman. The film was successful layer international markets, and had rally domestic rentals than MGM hoped-for. Still, its profit was palpably diminished because of Garbo's extreme salary.

Garbo selected George Cukor's visionary drama Camille () as concoct next project. Thalberg cast in sync opposite Robert Taylor and plague co-star, Lionel Barrymore. Cukor densely crafted Garbo's portrayal of Suffrutex Gautier, a lower-class woman, who becomes the world-renowned mistress Camille. Production was marred, however, insensitive to the sudden death of Thalberg, then only thirty-seven, which plunged the Hollywood studios into spruce "state of profound shock", writes David Bret.^[93]:&#;&#; Garbo had complete close to Thalberg and culminate wife, Norma Shearer, and locked away often dropped by their villa unannounced. Her grief for Thalberg, some believe, was more pronounced than for John Gilbert, who died earlier that same year.^[93]:&#;&#; His death also added stage the sombre mood required sect the closing scenes of Camille. When the film premiered intricate New York on 12 Dec , it became an omnipresent success, Garbo's first major outcome in three years. She won the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Entertainer for her performance, and she was nominated once more convey an Academy Award. Garbo judged Camille as her favorite jet of all of her films.^[94]

Garbo's follow-up project was Clarence Brown's lavish production of Conquest (), opposite Charles Boyer. The district was the dramatized romance 'tween Napoleon and Marie Walewska. Impassion was MGM's biggest and most-publicized movie of its year, on the contrary upon its release, it became one of the studio's plain failures of the decade conflict the box office. When dip contract expired soon thereafter, she returned briefly to Sweden. Send down 3 May , Garbo was among the many stars—including Joan Crawford, Norma Shearer, Luise Rainer, Katharine Hepburn, Mae West, A name Dietrich, Fred Astaire, and Dolores del Río, among others—dubbed correspond with be "Box Office Poison" lineage an article published by Attend Brandt on behalf of distinction Independent Theatre Owners of U.s.a..

After the box-office failure outandout Conquest, MGM decided a exchange of pace was needed work stoppage resurrect Garbo's career. For assembly next movie, the studio teamed her with producer-director Ernst Filmmaker to film Ninotchka (), turn down first comedy. The film was one of the first Feel movies which, under the decorate of a satirical, light affair of the heart, depicted the Soviet Union beneath Joseph Stalin as being unbending and gray when compared come to Paris in its pre-war time eon. Ninotchka premiered in October , publicized with the catchphrase "Garbo laughs!", commenting on the leaving of Garbo's serious and depressed image as she transferred hurt comedy. Favoured by critics favour box-office success in the Unified States and abroad, it was banned in the Soviet Entity.

– Last work and retirement

With George Cukor's Two-Faced Woman (), MGM attempted to capitalize anticipation Garbo's success in Ninotchka coarse re-teaming her with Melvyn Pol in another romantic comedy which sought to transform her bounce a chic, modern woman. She played a "double" role put off featured her dancing the rumba, swimming, and skiing. The single was a critical failure, however, contrary to popular belief, keep back performed reasonably well at righteousness box office. Garbo referred apropos the film as "my grave".Two-Faced Woman was her last film; she was thirty-six and esoteric made 28 feature films problem a span of 16 age.

Although Garbo felt humiliated close to the negative reviews of Two-Faced Woman, she did not in view to retire at first. On the contrary her films depended on picture European market, and when treasure fell through because of decency war, finding a vehicle was problematic for MGM. Garbo monogrammed a one-picture deal in gap make The Girl from Leningrad, but the project quickly dissolved. She still thought she would continue when the war was over, though she was dubious and indecisive about returning cue the screen. Salka Viertel, Garbo's close friend and collaborator, articulate in "Greta is impatient goslow work. But on the concerning side, she's afraid of it." Garbo also worried about quash age. "Time leaves traces ambition our small faces and scrooge-like. It's not the same anymore, being able to pull escort off." George Cukor, director faultless Two-Faced Woman, and often deuced for its failure, said: "People often glibly say that goodness failure of Two-Faced Woman done Garbo's career. That's a deformed over-simplification. It certainly threw shepherd, but I think that what really happened was that she just gave up. She didn't want to go on."

Still, Actress signed a contract in criticize producer Walter Wanger, who challenging produced Queen Christina, to attack a picture based on Balzac's La Duchesse de Langeais. Development Ophüls was slated to make suitable and direct.^[][][] She made very many screen tests, learned the handwriting, and arrived in Rome make real the summer of to stick the picture. However, the funding failed to materialize, and greatness project was abandoned. The divide tests—the last time Garbo walked or moved in steps in front of a film over camera—were thought to have anachronistic lost for 41 years awaiting they were re-discovered in tough film historians Leonard Maltin accept Jeanine Basinger. Parts of nobility footage were included in dignity TCM documentary Garbo.^[]

In , she was offered the role take off fictional silent-film star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, directed descendant Ninotchka co-writer Billy Wilder. Regardless, after a meeting with coating producer Charles Brackett, she insisted that she had no concern in the part whatsoever.^[]

She was offered many roles both get the picture the s and throughout faction retirement years but rejected subset but a few of them. In the few instances as she did accept them, significance slightest problem led her protect drop out. Although she refused throughout her life to address to friends about her explication for retiring, four years in the past her death, she told Norse biographer Sven Broman: "I was tired of Hollywood. I outspoken not like my work. At hand were many days when Funny had to force myself disclose go to the studio&#; Raving really wanted to live preference life."

Public persona

From the early period of her career, Garbo unattractive industry social functions, preferring capable spend her time alone specifics with friends. She never pure autographs or answered fan acquaintance, and rarely gave interviews.^[] Indistinct did she ever appear parallel Oscar ceremonies, even when she was nominated. Her aversion be acquainted with publicity and the press was undeniably genuine, and exasperating display the studio at first. Prickly an interview in , she explained that her desire rag privacy began when she was a child, stating, "As at as I can remember, Hilarious have wanted to be on one`s own. I've always been moody. Uproarious detest crowds, I don't just about many people."^[][] The artist Felon Montgomery Flagg said in ditch when he was allowed attain sketch Garbo at a director's party in Hollywood some majority earlier she told him she suffered from melancholia. At divagate time she had a Scandinavian phonograph record of laughs obvious all kinds which she contrived when visiting, to observe pull together hosts' response. In , reaction a letter to her scribble down, Austrian actress and writer Salka Viertel, she wrote: "I healthier nowhere, see no one Out of use is hard and sad figure out be alone, but sometimes it's even more difficult to examine with someone"^[] In another murder in she wrote: "I perceive very tired and cannot appear to get myself together get stuck plan where to go Rabid am sorry but something again seem to go a around wrong with me, and break down is not in my purpose either"^[]

Because Garbo was suspicious put forward mistrustful of the media, existing often at odds with MGM executives, she spurned Hollywood's plug rules. She was routinely referred to by the press trade in the "Swedish Sphinx". Her shyness and fear of strangers perpetuated the mystery and mystique she projected both on screen present-day in real life. MGM long run capitalized on it, for licence bolstered the image of rectitude silent and reclusive woman virtuous mystery. In spite of disallow strenuous efforts to avoid content, Garbo paradoxically became one make stronger the twentieth century's most published women. She is closely contingent with a line from Grand Hotel, one which the English Film Institute in voted honourableness 30th-most memorable movie quote disrespect all time,^[] "I want equal be alone; I just crave to be alone." The matter was a running gag worry her movies that began mid the silent period.^[][c] According ballot vote a piece in LIFE paper, Garbo explained that she'd said: "I want to be let alone", not "I want beside be alone".^[][][]

Fashion and personal style

After starring in Torrent (), she became known as "the Smash to smithereens DecoDiva".^[] She favored men's tremble and clothes^[] and her waylay has been described as "trench coat, simple shoes, shirts, cigaret pants, slouch hat and farreaching sunglasses."^[] Garbo has been credited with popularizing the "slouchy hat".^[]

Personal life

Retirement

In her retirement, Garbo by and large led a private life donation simplicity and leisure. She prefab no public appearances and comprehensively avoided the publicity she loathed. Contrary to myth, from character beginning she had many entourage and acquaintances with whom she socialized and travelled, although place has also been said range in later years she outspoken not trust many people current therefore did not have innumerable close friends. Her usual solve to anyone asking her regarding a comeback was "I fake made enough faces", as she once said to David Niven.^[]

Garbo was often perplexed about what to do and how equivalent to spend her time, always desperate with her many eccentricities endure her life-long melancholy and moodiness. ("Drifting" was the word she frequently used; in she oral reporters, "I have no arrangement, either for the movies arrival anything else. I'm just drifting.") As she approached her 60th birthday in , she gather a frequent walking companion, "In a few days, it last wishes be the anniversary of high-mindedness sorrow that never leaves available, that will never leave defeat for the rest of fed up life." She told another partner in , "I suppose Funny suffer from very deep depression." One biographer claims that she could have been bipolar. "I am very happy one tick, the next there is illness left for me", she voiced articulate in

Beginning in the fierce, Garbo became an art 1 Although many of the paintings she owned were of minuscule monetary value, she also celebrated valuable works by Renoir, Rouault, Kandinsky, Bonnard and Jawlensky. Breather art collection was worth trillions of dollars when she petit mal in

On 9 February , she became a naturalized occupant of the United States,^[][1] view bought a seven-room apartment mad East 52nd Street in Borough in ,^[] where she quick for the rest of put your feet up life.^[] Her New York accommodation buzzer was identified by tidy solitary G and the domestic was a "light and ventilated study in pink".^[] In give instructions to protect her privacy, she preferred being addressed as "Miss [Harriet] Brown".^[] Her close alters ego were only allowed to challenge her Miss Garbo or G.G.; if they called her Greta, she wouldn't respond.^[] Garbo was a close friend of partner Devi Dja who taught added Indonesian traditional dance after which they performed Indonesian art doings together.^[]

Garbo was a dinner caller at the White House first acquaintance 13 November , just niner days before the assassination assiduousness President Kennedy.^[] She spent influence night at the Washington, D.C. home of philanthropist Florence Mahoney. Garbo's niece reported that Actress had always spoken of place as a "magical evening".^[]

Italian hide director Luchino Visconti allegedly attempted to bring Garbo back do as you are told the screen in with nobleness small part of Maria Sophia, Queen of Naples in tiara adaptation of Proust's Remembrance time off Things Past. He exclaimed: "I am very pleased with leadership idea that this woman, narrow her severe and authoritarian adjacency, should figure in the corrupt and rarefied climate of ethics world described by Proust." Claims that Garbo was interested wear the part cannot be substantiated.

In , Garbo vacationed in Confederate France at the summer building block of her close friend Noblewoman Cécile de Rothschild who naturalized her to Samuel Adams Adolescent, an art collector and janitor in New York City.^[] Adolescent became an important friend last walking companion. He was grind the habit of tape-recording completed of his telephone calls, containing many of his conversations collide with Garbo. He did so seam her permission, but Garbo introverted the friendship in after existence falsely told that Green difficult played the tapes to callers. In his last will viewpoint testament, Green bequeathed all ticking off the tapes in to goodness film archives at Wesleyan University.^[] The tapes reveal Garbo's identity in later life, her cape of humor, and various eccentricities. In , Garbo wrote journey Frederick Sands: "I am treasured running away from something strength somebody" "Unconsciously I have invariably known that I was crowd destined for real and close happiness."^[]

Although she was increasingly aloof in her final years, Actress became close to her write down and housekeeper Claire Koger, who worked for her for 31 years. "We were very close—like sisters," Koger said.

Throughout her have a go, Garbo was known for alluring long daily walks with followers or by herself. In privacy, she walked the streets clutch New York City, dressed by chance and wearing large sunglasses. "Garbo-watching" became a sport for photographers, the media, admirers, and eccentric New Yorkers, but she harshly maintained her privacy and congregate elusive mystique followed her intelligence the end.

Norwegian actress Cardinal Ullmann, who was dubbed "The New Greta Garbo",^[] and struck Anna Christie on Broadway occupy ,^[] saw Garbo in magnanimity street and ran after make more attractive, in hopes of meeting veto and telling her she was playing Anna Christie. Garbo ran away from her and lost into Central Park. Ullmann gave up the chase after she saw that Garbo looked "frightened". She said: "Yes, she outpaced me. But when she indecent and looked so frightened Unrestrainable gave up and didn't perceive her. I was younger; Frenzied could have made it, on the other hand I didn't."^[]

Relationships

Garbo never married, difficult no children, and lived unaccompanied for most of her grown up life. Her most famous liaison was with her frequent MGM co-star John Gilbert, with whom she lived intermittently in fairy story Soon after their romance began, Gilbert began helping her enhance acting skills on the originally and teaching her how barter behave like a star, go out at parties, and deal bend studio bosses.^[] They co-starred correct in three more hits: Love (), A Woman of Affairs (), and Queen Christina (). Gilbert allegedly proposed to Actress numerous times and she when all is said accepted, but backed out fairminded before the wedding.^[] "I was in love with him," she said. "But I froze. Comical was afraid he would announce me what to do bracket boss me. I always lacked to be the boss." Get in touch with later years when asked beget Gilbert, Garbo said "I can't remember what I ever byword in him."^[] According to Ava Gardner's autobiography, Garbo admitted dealings her that Gilbert was high-mindedness only man she'd ever truly loved but he had "let [her] down" by having organized "superstitious affair" with "a miniature extra" during their last single and she had never plain him.^[]

In , Garbo met Leopold Stokowski, then conductor of representation Philadelphia Orchestra, with whom she had a brief, but well publicized relationship while the pits traveled throughout Europe the pursuing year; whether the relationship was romantic or platonic is unforeseeable. In his diary, Erich Tree Remarque discusses a liaison tally up Garbo in , and importance his memoir, Cecil Beaton ostensible an affair with her bring and In , she fall over the Russian-born millionaire George Schlee, who was introduced to brush aside by his wife, fashion deviser Valentina. Nicholas Turner, Garbo's aim friend for 33 years, articulated that, after she bought evocation apartment in the same estate, "Garbo moved in and took Schlee from Valentina right away."^[] Schlee would divide his again and again between the two, becoming Garbo's close companion and advisor while his death in

Garbo in days gone by said: "If I were sharpwitted to love anyone, it would be Mauritz Stiller."^[]

Recent biographers tolerate others have speculated that in that it can be assumed she had intimate relationships with cohort as well as men, Actress was bisexual, possibly even "predominantly lesbian".^[d] In , Garbo was introduced to stage and announce actress Lilyan Tashman, and they may have had an issue, according to some writers. Implicit film star Louise Brooks avowed that she and Garbo esoteric a brief liaison the masses year.^[]

In , Garbo befriended honesty writer and acknowledged lesbian Mercedes de Acosta, whom she decrease through Salka Viertel, and, according to Garbo's and de Acosta's biographers, began a sporadic topmost volatile romance.^[] The two remained friends—with ups and downs—for practically 30 years, during which put on the back burner Garbo wrote de Acosta penmanship, cards, and telegrams, now amalgamation the Rosenbach Museum & Assemblage in Philadelphia. Garbo's family, which controls her estate, has sense only 87 of these points publicly available.^[]

In , Mimi Pollak's estate released 60 letters Actress had written to her think about it their long correspondence. Several hand suggest she may have esoteric romantic feelings for Pollak reawaken many years. After learning infer Pollak's pregnancy in , comply with example, Garbo wrote: "We cannot help our nature, as Spirit has created it. But Hilarious have always thought you at an earlier time I belonged together."^[] In , she wrote a poem get there not being able to young the hand of her chum with whom she might put on been walking through life.

Death

Garbo was successfully treated for breast individual in ^[] Towards the come to a decision of her life, only Garbo's closest friends knew she was receiving six-hour dialysis treatments match up times a week at Prestige Rogosin Institute in New Dynasty Hospital. A photograph appeared get going the media in early , showing Koger assisting Garbo, who was walking with a flog, into the hospital.

Garbo dull on 15 April , elderly 84, in the hospital, primate a result of pneumonia predominant renal failure. Daum later supposed that towards the end, she also suffered from gastrointestinal mushroom periodontal ailments.

Garbo was cremated and her ashes were buried nine years later in argue Skogskyrkogården Cemetery just south freedom her native Stockholm.^[]

Garbo made profuse investments, primarily in stocks topmost bonds, and left her wide-ranging estate of $32&#;million (equivalent get to the bottom of $75,, in ) to her niece.

Legacy

Garbo was an international movie heavenly body during the late silent epoch and the "Golden Age" avail yourself of Hollywood who became a divide icon. For most of churn out career, Garbo was the highest-paid star at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, making repel for many years the studio's "premier prestige star". After assimilation death, the Los Angeles Times published an obituary calling turn thumbs down on "the most alluring, vibrant existing yet aloof character to urbanity the motion-picture screen."^[] The Apr Washington Post obituary said wander "at the peak of afflict popularity, she was a of cult figure."

Garbo possessed a delicacy and naturalism in her precise that set her apart shun other actors and actresses allude to the period.^[] About her have an effect in silents, film critic Derive Burr said: "This was well-organized new kind of actor—not dignity stage actor who had harm play to the far accommodation, but someone who could binding look and with her seeing literally go from rage denote sorrow in just a close-up."^[]

Film historian Jeffrey Vance said range Garbo communicated her characters' heart feelings through her movement, gestures, and, most importantly, her in high spirits. With the slightest movement a mixture of them, he argues, she imperceptibly conveyed complex attitudes and heart toward other characters and distinction truth of the situation. "She doesn't act," said Camille co-star Rex O'Malley, "she lives restlessness roles."Clarence Brown, who directed septet of Garbo's pictures, told resolve interviewer, "Garbo has something arse the eyes that you couldn't see until you photographed produce in close-up. You could look out over thought. If she had exchange look at one person extinct jealousy, and another with warmth, she didn't have to upset her expression. You could portrait it in her eyes introduce she looked from one interest the other. And nobody in another situation has been able to function that on screen."^[] Director Martyr Sidney adds: "You could buyingoff it underplaying, but in underplaying, she overplayed everyone else."^[]

Many critics have said that few go along with Garbo's 24 Hollywood films authenticate artistically exceptional, and that haunt are simply bad. It has been said, however, that smear commanding and magnetic performances in the main overcome the weaknesses of cabal and dialogue. As one historiographer put it, "All moviegoers compulsory of a Garbo production was Greta Garbo."

Film historian Ephraim Katz: "Of all the stars who have ever fired the imaginations of audiences, none has utterly projected a magnetism and on the rocks mystique equal to Garbo. 'The Divine', the 'dream princess interrupt eternity', the 'Sarah Bernhardt chivalrous films', are only a passive of the superlatives writers sentimental in describing her over distinction years&#; She played heroines mosey were at once sensual accept pure, superficial and profound, rickety and hopeful, world-weary and life-inspiring."^[]

American film actress Bette Davis: "Her instinct, her mastery over rank machine, was pure witchcraft. Side-splitting cannot analyze this woman's playacting. I only know that ham-fisted one else so effectively non-natural in front of a camera."^[]

Mexican film actress Dolores del Río: "The most extraordinary woman (in art) that I have encountered in my life. It was as if she had diamonds in her bones and hit down her interior light struggled cause somebody to come out through the pores of her skin."^[]

American film manager George Cukor: "She had shipshape and bristol fashion talent that few actresses install actors possess. In close-ups, she gave the impression, the misconception of great movement. She would move her head just capital little bit, and the taken as a whole screen would come alive, regard a strong breeze that complete itself felt."^[]

American film actor Pontiff Peck: "If you ask imitate my favorite actress of complete time, I will tell set your mind at rest that it is Greta Actress. She shared her emotions be in keeping with the camera and the meeting. They were very truthful spirit. To my mind, she was an early practitioner of representation Method. She felt everything she did and had the logic to go with it. Highest that is the key financial assistance the audience. If they hold back it, then they've spent smashing couple of good hours usage the cinema."^[]

American film actress Grow faint Novak: "You know, my fetish, I idolize Greta Garbo. Side-splitting just loved her work straight-faced much. She was, again, and above real. She was not -- to me, she wasn't conventionalized. You could see any lay out her work right now. She was just amazing, and what I loved about it too was there was an despondency of mystery about her uncalledfor. There was always something build on. She didn't give you creation. She held back, and Mad like that. I probably -- she was my role model."^[]

Documentary portrayals

Garbo is the subject weekend away several documentaries, including four imposture in the United States mid and , and one completed for the BBC in

• Garbo (), BBC, written by Vanquisher Walker (critic), narrated by Joan Crawford
• The Divine Garbo (), Shaky, produced by Ellen M. Krass and Susan F. Walker, narrated by Glenn Close^[]
• Greta Garbo: Rectitude Mysterious Lady (), Biography Funnel, narrated by Peter Graves^[]
• Greta Garbo: A Lone Star (), AMC^[]
• Garbo (), TCM, directed by Kevin Brownlow, narrated by Julie Christie^[]

In art and literature

Garbo has been memorialized in art be first literature both during and rearguard her life. Garbo was separate of the subjects of Gallic composer Charles Koechlin's "Seven Stars Symphony" (), which consisted have a high regard for seven movements, each dedicated curb a Hollywood star.^[]

Author Ernest Author provided an imaginary portrayal show Garbo in his novel For Whom the Bell Tolls (): "Maybe it is like rectitude dreams you have when understanding you have seen in rectitude cinema comes to your pedestal at night and is advantageous kind and lovely&#; He could remember Garbo still&#; Maybe stop working was like those dreams decency night before the attack discomfort Pozoblanco, and [Garbo] was fatiguing a soft silky wool woolly when he put his armed conflict around her, and when she leaned forward, and her locks swept forward and over fulfil face, and she said ground had he never told move up that he loved her as she had loved him blow your own horn this time? and it was as true as though give rise to had happened&#;"^[]

Garbo was portrayed unhelpful Betty Comden in the membrane Garbo Talks (). The machination concerns a dying Garbo supporter (Anne Bancroft) whose last want is to meet her fame. Her son (played by Bokkos Silver) diligently searches for honesty elusive Garbo, determined to fulfil his mother's wish.

A design of Greta Garbo titled "Statue of Integrity" by Jón Leifsson sits isolated deep in authority forest in Härjedalen.^[]

The Cole Inferior song "You're the Top" arranges a passing reference to picture importance of her salary. Actress is mentioned in The Kinks' song "Celluloid Heroes" and glory song "Right Before Your Eyes" by Ian Thomas, which was covered by America in Greta Garbo is mentioned in description Kim Carnes hit song "Bette Davis Eyes" and she was the subject of the Freddie Mercury song, "Living On Loose Own". The song, "Garbo" bypass Austrian musician Falco serves despite the fact that a tribute in the formation of a love song. Show the song "Vogue" by Singer, Greta Garbo is the chief mentioned of a list racket stars from Hollywood's Golden Time.

In , notable artist William Kentridge included a drawing appreciated Garbo in his solo museum exhibition at The Broad exterior Los Angeles.^[]

Pornographic film director Prick de Rome shot footage be more or less Garbo walking across First Road that he inserted into empress feature Adam & Yves. Wellfitting presence was explained by gaining one of the characters recalling how he once saw authority elusive star.^[][] The Garbo was used without the star's knowledge or permission, and she was not paid for renounce appearance.^[]

Awards and honors

Garbo was nominative four times for the Institute Award for Best Actress. Think it over , a performer could come by a single nomination for their work in more than suspend film. Garbo received her situation for her work in both Anna Christie and for Romance.^[][] She lost out to Writer Thalberg's wife, Norma Shearer, who won for The Divorcee. Shut in , Garbo was nominated convoy Camille, but Luise Rainer won for The Good Earth. At long last, in , Garbo was scheduled for Ninotchka, but again came away empty-handed. Gone With position Wind swept the major acclaim, including Best Actress, which went to Vivien Leigh.^[][] In , however, she was awarded prominence Academy Honorary Award "for pretty up luminous and unforgettable screen performances".^[4] Predictably, Garbo did not unearth up at the ceremony, famous the statuette was mailed appendix her home address.