Greta Garbo (Greta Garbo): biography, filmography, personal life of the actress

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 for imitation. However, few of her contemporaries knew the actress present. She was always secretive, strange and lonely. Despite the non-standard appearance, shocking behavior in public, Garbo left an indelible mark on the world of the film industry. Her creative career was short-lived, she was shot only 19 years, but still experts in the world of cinema perceive this woman as one of the most luxurious and talented actresses of the twentieth century, however, so it is.

Childhood and youth of the actress

Greta Gustafson (the real surname of the actress) was born in Sweden in Stockholm on September 18, 1905. In the family she was the third child, they lived poorly, that's why the parents even thought about giving their daughter to the upbringing of rich neighbors, but then changed their mind. In 1918 the Gustafsons were unwell, as Karl, Greta's father, died of tuberculosis. The girl had to leave school and go to work. The first money she earned in a hairdresser, working there as an assistant masters.

Attractive appearance allowed Grete to work as a model for shooting advertisements in newspapers. She was also a saleswoman at a Stockholm department store. In the end, Eric Petcher, a comedy director, drew attention to the young talent. In 17 years, his debut, though small, but still the role played by Greta Garbo. Biography of the girl in 1922 recorded her first success in the world of cinema.

The first steps in the world of cinema

"Peter the Vagabond" - this is the name of the first film in which the 17-year-old Greta Gustafson debuted, in the distant year of 1922 she was shot under her own name. A shy, secretive and slightly talkative girl liked the world of cinema, in which one 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 was shot only in three films. In addition to "Peter the Vagabond," there was also the "Saga of Yeste Berling" (1924) and "The Sad Lane" (1925). Greta Garbo, basically, played young naive fools, first encountering the cruel realities of life. In Hollywood, the actress appeared in 1926. There, on one of the parties, she was spotted by the director Maurice Stiller, who was struck by the cold beauty of the girl, her alienation and icy eyes.

He called her a sphinx, and this nickname for a long time attached to the Swede. It was Maurice who came up with her pseudonym Garbo. Greta agreed to change her surname, and she had no particular choice. In the US, a woman was absolutely alone - no friends, no money. All that she had at that time was a suitcase with changeable underwear. Whatever it was, but the first success to Greta came in America. In 1926 two films appeared: "Stream" and "Temptress". Americans at first did not want to perceive a strange actress breaking all the canons about female beauty, but then they liked her play, the ability to reincarnate from a shy and cold beauty into a sensual and passionate woman.

The weirdness of Greta Garbo

Greta Garbo's style is still admired. She can not be called a fragile beauty, conquering men with a wave of long resinous eyelashes and a naive smile. Greta had an unusual appearance - narrow hips, broad shoulders, 42 foot size. Besides, she often spoke about herself in a masculine gender, she could easily invite a girl to dance, and then kiss her on the lips. Garbo's character was not understood by far not all, she surprised the people around her with detachment, ostentatious coldness, silence.

Greta had another oddity - it was a craving for members of sexual minorities. Even in her youth, she announced her position without embarrassment, appearing at the funeral of Frederick Murnau, a film director who had been branded as a homosexual. For this action, a great courage was needed, considering that only 11 brave men came to say goodbye to the genius. Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich always competed on the screen, but in life they communicated. In addition to extravagant appearance, immense talent, they had another similarity - both were friends with Mercedes De Acosta, a writer, a well - known non-traditional orientation.

Filmography of the actress

Thanks to a successful start in Hollywood, in 1926 she entered into a 5-year contract with the firm MGM, Greta Garbo. The filmography of the actress at that time was replenished with new works every year. In 1927 she released a free screen version of Anna Karenina - "Love", and the film "Flesh and the Devil", in which Garbo was shot along with the handsome and heartthrob John Gilbert. In 1928 there was a film about Sarah Bernhardt called "The Divine Woman." Also, the actress starred in the drama "Business Woman" and the melodrama "The Mysterious Lady".

In 1929 Greta joined the creative piggy bank with such films as "Wild Orchid", "Kiss", "Single Standard". The movies with Greta Garbo were rich in dramatic shades, profound psychological meaning, sincerity. The platitude of the plot has always been brightened up by the brilliant actor's play of this great woman. In 1930, in the career of Garbo, a turning point came, the sound period came, everyone wondered how the silent "Sphinx" would speak. Sound debut in "Anne Christie" was great, so the studio "MGM" threw the actress other works.

In 1931 there were such films as "Inspiration", "Mata Hari", "Suzanne Lenox". In 1932 - Grand Hotel, "What You Want Me", in 1933 - "Queen Christina", in 1934 - "Painted Veil". Greta Garbo played the main roles flawlessly, the viewer believed her unquestioningly, so in 1935 the actress played a difficult dramatic hero Anna Karenina in the eponymous film, and in 1936, in order to expand her acting ability and show all facets of talent - in "The Lady with Camellias" . In 1937 the work "Conquest" was published, in 1939 Garbo won the audience with the melodrama "Ninochka". In 1941, Greta appeared in the film "Two-faced Woman" for the last time, after that came the period of seclusion.

Unexpected departure from the world of cinema

The film "Two-faced woman" did not bring Garbo's moral satisfaction, and the audience was not enthusiastic about it. The actress suddenly decides to leave the film world forever. At that time she was only 36 years old. Greta did not explain anything to anyone, did not give an interview, just stated: "I decided not to act any more."

Garbo's seclusion

The Snow Queen kept her word. Garbo was hiding under a fictitious name in her luxurious New York apartment, from time to time visited the Swiss resorts, the street came out only in black glasses, covering half a face. Half a century lasted the reclusiveness of the great actress, all this time spent alone with a mirror in the silent solitude of Greta Garbo. The biography of this woman still contains many mysteries.

Relations with women

I never gave interviews, did not give out autographs, did not attend the premieres of my films, did not expose my feelings to Greta Garbo. The personal life of the actress is known only from the words of her more talkative colleagues and good acquaintances. For example, Marlene Dietrich has told a lot about Greta's non-traditional inclinations. For a long time Garbo was friends with Mercedes de Acosta, a writer of Latin origin. The woman became famous not so much for her talent as for being the mistress of a great actress. But Greta did not differ in constancy, so she threw Mercedes several times, turned novels on the side.

Disappointment in love

At the age of 15, Greta Garbo married. Biography captures the fact that the chosen actress was a wealthy aristocrat Max Gample. He was subjugated by the beauty and coldness of the girl, so without hesitation offered her a hand and heart, and she unexpectedly agreed. Their marriage soon broke up, the initiator of the divorce was herself Greta, 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 mutual relations strange. The actor had to build for her lover a separate cottage in which she occasionally received guests. Proposals Gilbert Garbo rejected, 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 had subsided a little, and the inconsolable bridegroom departed from stress. The errant beauty did not explain her action.

But she did not just throw Garbo, they threw her too. The actress really fell in love with Leopold Stokowski, the great conductor. The case was for the wedding, the woman needed only to star in the films stipulated in the contract. But the wedding did not take place. The groom threw Garbo, preferring her to the rich woman Gloria Vanderbilt.

Cruel and wayward beauty

There were in the life of the beautiful Swede another relationship. In 1946 she approached Cecil Biton, a photographer of English origin. Always secretive and alienated Garbo suddenly opened before a new acquaintance. They strolled along the park together, conducted endless conversations, only Cecil Greta allowed herself to take pictures. Business was going to the wedding, acquaintances, holding their breath, followed the development of their novel.

Somehow the actress left for Sweden, and Biton meanwhile gave the magazine "Vog" her photos. Garbo was furious with this act. The woman demanded to return the photos, because if they appear on the pages of the publication, there can be no question of any wedding. Biton did not have time, the number had already been printed. Greta Garbo kept her word. In old age, when Cecil was dying from a second heart attack, she came to him and forgave everything, but it did not make him or her easier.

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, and also books. For example, several of his diaries were published by Cecil Beaton, most of his memories were dedicated to Garbo. One thing is known: for the external rigidity, the coldness hid an vulnerable and tender soul, which has left this life incomprehensible and lonely.