Greta
Gustafsson was born in Stockholm, Sweden,
on 18th September, 1905. She worked in a shop but after winning a
bathing beauty competition at sixteen, she appeared in several advertising
campaigns.
While studying at the Royal Theatre Dramatic School she was discovered
by the film director, Mauritz Stiller. Changing her name to Greta
Garbo, she starred in Stiller's film, The
Atonement of Gosta Berling (1924). After appearing in The
Joyless Street (1925), Garbo and Stiller emigrated to the
United States.
In Hollywood she appeared in several silent films including The
Temptress (1926), Flesh and the
Devil (1927) and The Mysterious
Lady (1928). Despite her Swedish accent, Garbo successfully
switched to talking pictures with Anna Christie
(1930). This was followed by Susan Lennox,
Her Fall and Rise (1931), Grand
Hotel (1932), Mati Hari
(1932), Queen Christina (1933),
Anna Karenina (1935), Camille
(1937) and Ninotchka (1939).
Garbo retired after making the Two-Faced
Woman (1941) and remained a total recluse for the rest
of her life. Greta Garbo died in New York
on 15th April, 1990.
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