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Greta Garbo

Birth name: Greta Lovisa Gustafsson

Birth date: 18.09.1905

Greta Lovisa Gustafsson was born in Stockholm, Sweden on September 18, 1905. She was 14 when her father died, leaving the family destitute. Greta was forced to leave school and go to work in a department store. The store used her for her modeling abilities for newspaper ads. She had no film aspirations until she appeared in an advertising short at that same department store while she was still a teenager. This led to another short film when Erik A. Petschler, a comedy director, saw the film. He gave her a small part in the film, Luffarpetter (1922). Encouraged by her own performance she applied for and won a scholarship in a Swedish drama school. While there she appeared in two films, Lyckoriddare, En (1921) and Luffarpetter (1922) the following year. Both were small parts, but it was a start. Finally famed Swedish director, Mauritz Stiller, pulled her from drama school for the leading role in Gösta Berlings saga (1924). At 18, Greta was on a roll. Following Freudlose Gasse, Die (1925) both Greta and Stiller were offered contracts with MGM. Her first US film was Torrent (1926). It was a silent film where she didn't have to speak a word of English. After a few more films, such as The Temptress (1926), Love (1927/I), and A Woman of Affairs (1928), Greta starred in Anna Christie (1930) (her first "talkie"), which not only gave her a powerful screen presence, but also gave her an Academy Award nomination as Best Actress. Unfortunately she didn't win. Later that year she filmed Romance (1930) which was somewhat of a letdown, but bounced back as lead role in Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931) with Clark Gable. The film was a hit and led to another exciting title role in Mata Hari (1931). Greta continued to give intensified performances in whatever was handed her. The next year Greta was cast in another hit Grand Hotel (1932). But it was MGM's Anna Karenina (1935) where she, perhaps, gave the performance of her life. She was absolutely breathtaking in the title role as a woman torn between two lovers and her son. Greta starred in Ninotchka (1939) which showcased her comedic side. It wasn't until two years later she made what was to be her last film that being Two-Faced Woman (1941), another comedy. After World War II, Greta, by her own admission, felt that the world had changed perhaps forever and she retired, never again to face the camera. She would work for the rest of her life to perpetuate the Garbo mystique. Her films, she felt, had their proper place in history and would gain in value. She abandoned Hollywood and moved to New York City. She would jet-set with some of the world's best known personalities such as Aristotle Onassis and others. She spent time gardening flowers and vegetables. In 1954, Greta was given a special Oscar for past unforgettable performances. She even penned her biography in 1990. On April 15, 1990, Greta died of natural causes in New York and with it the "Garbo Mystique". She was 84.

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Filmography

# Two-Faced Woman (1941) .... Karin Borg Blake # Ninotchka (1939) .... Ninotchka # Conquest (1937) .... Countess Marie Walewska ... aka Marie Walewska (UK) # Camille (1936) .... Marguerite Gautier # Anna Karenina (1935) .... Anna Karenina # The Painted Veil (1934) .... Katrin Koerber Fane # Queen Christina (1933) .... Queen Christina # As You Desire Me (1932) .... Zara aka Maria # Grand Hotel (1932) .... Grusinskaya # Mata Hari (1931) .... Mata Hari # Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) (1931) .... Susan Lenox ... aka Rising to Fame ... aka The Rise of Helga (UK) # Inspiration (1931) .... Yvonne Valbret # Anna Christie (1931) .... Anna Christie # Romance (1930) .... Madame Rita Cavallini # Anna Christie (1930) .... Anna Christie # The Kiss (1929) .... Irene Guarry # The Single Standard (1929) .... Arden Stuart Hewlett # Wild Orchids (1929) .... Lillie Sterling # A Woman of Affairs (1928) .... Diana Merrick Furness # The Mysterious Lady (1928) .... Tania Fedorova # The Divine Woman (1928) .... Marianne # Love (1927/I) .... Anna Karenina ... aka Anna Karenina (UK) # Flesh and the Devil (1926) .... Felicitas # The Temptress (1926) .... Elena # Torrent (1926) .... Leonora Moreno, aka La Brunna ... aka Ibáñez' Torrent (USA) # Freudlose Gasse, Die (1925) (uncredited) .... Greta Rumfort ... aka Joyless Street (UK) ... aka The Joyless Street (USA) ... aka The Street of Sorrow (USA) ... aka Viennese Love (Canada: English title) # Gösta Berlings saga (1924) .... Elizabeth Dohna ... aka The Atonement of Gosta Berling ... aka The Legend of Gosta Berling ... aka The Saga of Gosta Berling ... aka The Story of Gosta Berling # Luffarpetter (1922) (as Greta Gustafsson) .... Greta ... aka Peter the Tramp # Kärlekens ögon (1922) .... Extra ... aka A Scarlet Angel (UK) # Lyckoriddare, En (1921) .... Maid ... aka A Happy Knight (literal English title) # Konsum Stockholm Promo (1921) ... aka How Not to Dress (Sweden) # Herr och fru Stockholm (1920)