Greta Garbo for a short creative career was able to conquer not only Europe but also the United States. She became an icon of style, an object to follow. At the same time, few of her contemporaries knew the real actress. She was always secretive, strange and lonely. Despite the non-standard appearance, shocking behavior in public, Garbo left behind an indelible mark in the world of the film industry. Her creative career was short-lived, she was shot only 19 years old, but still connoisseurs of the world of cinema perceive this woman as one of the most luxurious and talented actresses of the twentieth century, however, the way it is.
Actress childhood and youth
Greta Gustafson (the real name of the actress) was born in Sweden in Stockholm on September 18, 1905. She was the third child in the family, they lived poorly, so the parents even thought about giving their daughter up to rich neighbors, but then changed their minds. In 1918, the Gustafsons were uncomfortable, since Carl, the father of Greta, died of tuberculosis. The girl had to drop out of school and go to work. She earned her first money at the hairdresser, working there as an assistant to the masters.
Attractive appearance allowed Greta to work as a model for shooting advertisements in newspapers. She was also a saleswoman at the Stockholm department store. In the end, Eric Petcher, a comedic director, drew attention to the young talent. At the age of 17, Greta Garbo played her debut, albeit small, but all the same. The biography of the girl in 1922 recorded her first success in the world of cinema.
First steps in the world of cinema
“Peter the Tramp” - that’s the name of the first film in which the 17-year-old Greta Gustafson made her debut, back in 1922 she starred under her own name. Shy, secretive and unobtrusive girl liked the world of cinema, in which you can hide from everyone under the guise of ostentatious gaiety, without revealing the true feelings. From 1922 to 1924, Greta studied acting at the drama school of the Royal Stockholm Drama Theater.
In Europe, the girl starred in only three film works. In addition to Peter the Tramp, there was also the Saga of Yest Burling (1924) and The Joyless Lane (1925). Greta Garbo, in the main, played young, naive silly women who first encountered the harsh realities of life. In Hollywood, the actress appeared in 1926. There, at one of the parties, she was noticed by the director Maurice Stiller, who was struck by the cold beauty of the girl, her estrangement and icy eyes.
He called her the Sphinx, and this nickname was attached to the Swede for a long time. It was Maurice who invented her pseudonym Garbo. Greta agreed to change her last name, and she had no particular choice. In the USA, the woman was absolutely alone - no friends, no money. All that she had at that time was a suitcase with removable underwear. Anyway, but the first success came to Greta in America. In 1926, two films were released: "Stream" and "Temptress". At first, the Americans did not want to perceive a strange actress, breaking all the canons of female beauty, but then they liked her game, the ability to transform from a shy and cold beauty into a sensual and passionate woman.
Oddities Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo's style is still admirable. She can not be called a fragile beauty, conquering men with a wave of long tarry eyelashes and a naive smile. Greta had an unusual appearance - narrow hips, broad shoulders, 42 foot size. In addition, she often spoke about herself in a masculine gender, she could easily invite a girl to dance, and then also kiss her on the lips. The character of Garbo was far from clear to everyone; she surprised others with her detachment, ostentatious coldness, and silence.
Greta had another oddity - this was a craving for representatives of sexual minorities. Even in her youth, she declared her position without embarrassment, appearing at the funeral of Friedrich Murnau, a film director who was known for his homosexual inclinations. For this act, great courage was needed, given that only 11 daredevils had come to say goodbye to a genius. Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich always competed on the screen, but in life they talked. In addition to their extravagant appearance, immense talent, they had one more similarity - both were friends with Mercedes De Acosta, a writer known for non-traditional orientation.
Filmography of the actress
Thanks to a successful start in Hollywood, in 1926 she signed a 5-year contract with MGM Greta Garbo. The filmography of the actress at that time was annually replenished with new works. In 1927, the free adaptation of Anna Karenina, Love, and the film Flesh and the Devil, in which Garbo starred with handsome and heartthrob John Gilbert, were released. In 1928, there was a film work about
Sarah Bernhardt called "The Divine Woman." The actress also starred in the drama "Woman of Business" and the melodrama "The Mysterious Lady."
In 1929, Greta replenished the creative piggy bank with such films as “Wild Orchid”, “Kiss”, “Single Standard”. Films with Greta Garbo were distinguished by a wealth of dramatic shades, a deep psychological meaning, sincerity. The banality of the plot has always been brightened up by the ingenious acting of this great woman. In 1930, a turning point came in Garbo’s career, a sound period came, everyone wondered how the silent “Sphinx” would speak. The sound debut in "Anne Christie" was excellent, so the MGM studio threw the actress with other works.
In 1931, films such as “Inspiration”, “Mata Hari”, “Susanna Lenox” were released. In 1932 - “Grand Hotel”, “What do you want me to do”, in 1933 - “Queen Christina”, in 1934 - “Painted Veil”. Greta Garbo played the leading roles flawlessly, the viewer believed her unquestioningly, therefore, in 1935, the actress played the complex dramatic heroine Anna Karenina in the film of the same name, and in 1936, to expand her acting abilities and show all facets of talent, in “The Lady with Camellias” . In 1937, the work “Conquest” was published, in 1939 Garbo conquered the audience with the melodrama “Ninochka”. In 1941, Greta starred for the last time in the movie "Two-Faced Woman", after which the period of retreat began.
An unexpected departure from the world of cinema
The film "Two-faced woman" did not bring moral satisfaction to Garbo, and the audience was not delighted with him. The actress suddenly decides to permanently leave the world of cinema. At that time she was only 36 years old. Greta didn’t explain anything to anyone, she didn’t give an interview, she simply stated: “I decided not to withdraw anymore.”
Reclusive garbo
The Snow Queen kept her word. Garbo was hiding under an assumed name in her luxurious New York apartment, from time to time she visited Swiss resorts, she went out into the street only with black glasses covering her half face. The retreat of the great actress lasted half a century, all this time she spent alone with a mirror in the silent solitude of Greta Garbo. The biography of this woman is still fraught with many mysteries.
Relations with women
I never gave an interview, I didn’t sign autographs, I was not present at the premieres of my films, I did not expose to the public my feelings Greta Garbo. The personal life of the actress is known only from the words of her more talkative colleagues and good friends. For example, Marlene Dietrich spoke a lot about Greta's unconventional inclinations. For a long time Garbo was friends with Mercedes de Acosta, a writer of Latin origin. A woman became famous not so much for her talent as for being the mistress of a great actress. But Greta was not distinguished by constancy, therefore more than once threw Mercedes, twisted novels on the side.
Disappointment in love
At age 15, she married Greta Garbo. The biography was captured by the fact that the rich aristocrat Max Gampel became the actress's chosen one. He was captivated by the beauty and coldness of the girl, so without hesitation he offered her a hand and a heart, and she unexpectedly agreed. Their marriage soon broke up, Greta herself became the initiator of the divorce, explaining that she was bored. Max was surprised, because there was no reason for such an act, but the Swede simply left his life, not demanding either money or property.
Then there was a relationship with the famous lovelace John Gilbert. Many called their relationship strange. The actor had to build a separate cottage for her lover, in which she occasionally received guests. Gilbert Garbo rejected the proposal, but then unexpectedly agreed. John was preparing for the wedding, but on the eve of the celebration, the bride simply disappeared. Greta appeared only when the passions calmed down a little, and the inconsolable groom moved away from stress. The eccentric beauty did not explain her deed.
But not only Garbo threw, she was also thrown. The actress truly fell in love with Leopold Stokowski, the great conductor. The matter went to the wedding, the woman only had to star in the films stipulated in the contract. But the marriage never took place. The groom abandoned Garbo, preferring the rich man
Gloria Vanderbilt to her.Cruel and wayward beauty
There were another relationship in the life of a beautiful Swedish woman. In 1946, she became close to Cecil Beaton, a photographer of English descent. Always secretive and alienated, Garbo suddenly opened before a new acquaintance. They walked together in the park, had endless conversations, only Cecil Greta allowed herself to take pictures. The matter went to the wedding, friends, holding their breath, watched the development of their romance.
Once the actress left for Sweden, while Beaton, meanwhile, transferred her photographs to the Vogue magazine. Garbo was furious with such an act. The woman demanded that the photographs be returned, because if they appear on the pages of the publication, there can be no talk of any wedding. Biton did not have time, the number was already printed. Greta Garbo kept her word. In old age, when Cecil died of a second heart attack, she came to him and forgave everything, but this made it easier for him and her.
The mystery woman
Greta Garbo died on April 15, 1990. She lived a long, but very strange life, which remained a mystery to society. The fate of the great actress is known only from the stories of her colleagues, acquaintances, as well as books. For example, Cecil Beaton published several of his diaries; most of his memoirs were devoted to Garbo. One thing is known: behind the external rigidity, coldness hid a vulnerable and tender soul, which had left this life incomprehensible and lonely.