Greta Garbo
Born: 1905-09-18 in Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden
Died: 1990-04-15
Known For: Acting
Biography
Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; September 18, 1905 – April 15, 1990) was a Swedish-American actress, widely regarded as one of the greatest stars of classic Hollywood cinema. Known for her melancholic and enigmatic screen presence, she starred in iconic films such as Anna Karenina, Queen Christina, Camille, and Ninotchka. Throughout her career, she was celebrated for her subtle and understated performances, earning three Academy Award nominations and an honorary Oscar in 1954. Garbo was famously private, avoiding the Hollywood social scene and retiring from acting at the age of 35. Her personal life has long been the subject of speculation, particularly regarding her sexuality. She was romantically linked to several women, including writer Mercedes de Acosta and actress Marlene Dietrich, fueling rumors that she may have been lesbian or bisexual. However, Garbo never publicly addressed these rumors, maintaining an air of mystery that only added to her legendary status. Her legacy continues to captivate audiences, with her influence extending beyond film into discussions of gender, sexuality, and Hollywood’s golden age.
Filmography
2024
- Garbo: Where Did You Go? as Self (archive footage)
2022
- The Mystery of Marilyn Monroe: The Unheard Tapes
- Prejudice and Pride: Swedish Film Queer as Self (archive footage)
2018
- Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood as Self (archive footage)
2014
- Stars of the Silver Screen - Greta Garbo as Self (archive footage)
2012
- Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen as (archive footage)
2010
- Sigrid Holmquist as Sigrid Holmquist (archive footage)
- Rediscovering John Gilbert as Self (archive footage)
2009
- 1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year as Self (archive footage)
- Hollywood sul Tevere
2008
- Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood as Queen Christina (archive footage)
2007
- Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema as Self (archive footage)
2005
- Garbo as Self (archive footage)
2004
- Checking Out: Grand Hotel as Self / Various roles (archive footage)
2003
- Complicated Women as Self (archive footage)
- Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk as Self (archive footage)
2001
- Greta Garbo: A Lone Star as Self (archive footage)
1996
- Joan Crawford: Always the Star as Self (archive footage)
1995
- Stjärnbilder as (archive footage)
- The Casting Couch
1993
- Minns ni? as (archive footage)
1991
- The Meeting of Two Queens as (archive footage)
1990
- The Divine Garbo as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
1988
- Stiller, Garbo & jag as (archive footage)
1986
- Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown as Self (archive footage)
1976
- That's Entertainment, Part II as (archive footage)
1974
- Spécial cinéma as Self (archive footage)
- Adam & Yves as Herself (uncredited)
1972
- Hollywood: The Dream Factory as Self (archive footage)
1969
- Marlowe as Grusinskaya(archive footage) (uncredited)
- Garbo, by Joan Crawford as Self (archive footage)
1964
- The Big Parade of Comedy as Ninotchka in 'Ninotchka' (archive footage)
1963
- 30 Years of Fun as (archive footage)
1955
1949
- Testfilm Greta Garbo as Self
1941
- Two-Faced Woman as Karin Borg Blake
1940
1939
- Ninotchka as Nina "Ninotchka" Ivanovna Yakushova
- From the Ends of the Earth as Self
1937
- Conquest as Countess Marie Walewska
- The Romance of Celluloid as Self (archive footage)
1936
- Camille as Marguerite Gautier
1935
- Anna Karenina as Anna Karenina
- Do You Remember? as (archive footage)
1934
- Queen Christina as Christina
- The Painted Veil as Katrin Koerber Fane
1932
- Grand Hotel as Grusinskaya
- As You Desire Me as Zara, a.k.a. Maria
1931
- Mata Hari as Mata Hari
- Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise) as Helga, aka Susan Lenox
- Inspiration as Yvonne Valbret
- Fröken, Ni liknar Greta Garbo! as (archive footage)
1930
- Anna Christie as Anna Christie
- Romance as Rita Cavallini
- Anna Christie as Anna Christie
1929
- The Kiss as Irene Guarry
- Wild Orchids as Lillie Sterling
- The Single Standard as Arden Stuart
- A Man's Man as Greta Garbo
- With Greta Garbo on the Swedish American Line's Ship
1928
- The Mysterious Lady as Tania Fedorova
- A Woman of Affairs as Diana Merrick
- The Divine Woman as Marianne
1927
- Love as Anna Karenina
1926
- Flesh and the Devil as Felicitas
- Torrent as Leonora Moreno
- The Temptress as Elena
1925
- Joyless Street as Greta Rumfort
1924
- The Saga of Gösta Berling as Elizabeth Dohna
1922
- A Scarlet Angel as Extra
- Peter the Tramp as Greta
1921
- Our Daily Bread as Companion
- A Fortune Hunter as Maid
1920
- Mr. and Mrs. Stockholm Out Shopping as Elder Sister/Mannequin
- Sweden and Swedish Industries as Self