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Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

72

Gender

Female

Birthday

1905-09-18

Day of Death

1990-04-15 (85 years old)

Place of Birth

Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

Also Known As

Greta Gustafsson

Greta Garbo

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.

Known For

Ninotchka

Ninotchka

Flesh and the Devil

Flesh and the Devil

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

The Mysterious Lady

The Mysterious Lady

Anna Christie

Anna Christie

Paris Hilton, Inc.

Paris Hilton, Inc.

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown

Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

Acting

Ninotchka

1939

Ninotchka

as

Nina "Ninotchka" Ivanovna Yakushova

Wild Orchids

1929

Wild Orchids

as

Lillie Sterling

Conquest

1937

Conquest

as

Countess Marie Walewska

The Kiss

1929

The Kiss

as

Irene Guarry

Inspiration

1931

Inspiration

as

Yvonne Valbret

Queen Christina

1933

Queen Christina

as

Christina

The Joyless Street

1925

The Joyless Street

as

Greta Rumfort

Grand Hotel

1932

Grand Hotel

as

Grusinskaya

Mata Hari

1931

Mata Hari

as

Mata Hari

A Woman of Affairs

1928

A Woman of Affairs

as

Diana Merrick

Garbo, by Joan Crawford

1969

Garbo, by Joan Crawford

as

Self (archive footage)

Anna Christie

1930

Anna Christie

as

Anna Christie

Camille

1936

Camille

as

Marguerite Gautier

Minns ni?

1993

Minns ni?

as

(archive footage)

Flesh and the Devil

1926

Flesh and the Devil

as

Felicitas

The Saga of Gösta Berling

1924

The Saga of Gösta Berling

as

Elizabeth Dohna

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

2012

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

as

(archive footage)

A Man's Man

1929

A Man's Man

as

Greta Garbo

The Painted Veil

1934

The Painted Veil

as

Katrin Koerber Fane

Anna Karenina

1935

Anna Karenina

as

Anna Karenina

Testfilm Greta Garbo

1949

Testfilm Greta Garbo

as

Self

Romance

1930

Romance

as

Rita Cavallini

Two-Faced Woman

1941

Two-Faced Woman

as

Karin Borg Blake

The Temptress

1926

The Temptress

as

Elena

The Single Standard

1929

The Single Standard

as

Arden Stuart

Love

1927

Love

as

Anna Karenina

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

1972

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

as

Self (archive footage)

The Mysterious Lady

1928

The Mysterious Lady

as

Tania Fedorova

As You Desire Me

1932

As You Desire Me

as

Zara, a.k.a. Maria

Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

2008

Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood

as

Queen Christina (archive footage)

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

1931

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

as

Helga, aka Susan Lenox

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

2018

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

as

Self (archive footage)

Torrent

1926

Torrent

as

Leonora Moreno

Prejudice and Pride: Swedish Film Queer

2022

Prejudice and Pride: Swedish Film Queer

as

Self (archive footage)

The Divine Woman

1928

The Divine Woman

as

Marianne

Mr. and Mrs. Stockholm Out Shopping

1920

Mr. and Mrs. Stockholm Out Shopping

as

Elder Sister/Mannequin

Our Daily Bread

1921

Our Daily Bread

as

Companion

Peter the Tramp

1922

Peter the Tramp

as

Greta

Anna Christie

1930

Anna Christie

as

Anna Christie

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

2004

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

as

Self / Various roles (archive footage)

Paris Hilton, Inc.

2009

Paris Hilton, Inc.

as

Self (archive footage)

Do You Remember?

1935

Do You Remember?

as

(archive footage)

Stjärnbilder

1995

Stjärnbilder

as

(archive footage)

Garbo

2005

Garbo

as

Self (archive footage)

The Divine Garbo

1990

The Divine Garbo

as

Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk

2003

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk

as

Self (archive footage)

Garbo: Where Did You Go?

2024

Garbo: Where Did You Go?

as

Self (archive footage)

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

1996

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

as

Self (archive footage)

Fröken, Ni liknar Greta Garbo!

1931

Fröken, Ni liknar Greta Garbo!

as

(archive footage)

With Greta Garbo on the Swedish American Line's Ship

1929

With Greta Garbo on the Swedish American Line's Ship

as

Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown

1986

Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown

as

Self (archive footage)

The Romance of Celluloid

1937

The Romance of Celluloid

as

Self (archive footage)

From the Ends of the Earth

1939

From the Ends of the Earth

as

Self

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

1940

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

as

Self

Complicated Women

2003

Complicated Women

as

Self (archive footage)

That's Entertainment, Part II

1976

That's Entertainment, Part II

as

(archive footage)

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

1940

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

as

Self

Sigrid Holmquist

2010

Sigrid Holmquist

as

Sigrid Holmquist (archive footage)

Adam & Yves

1974

Adam & Yves

as

Self (uncredited)

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

2007

Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema

as

Self (archive footage)

The Big Parade of Comedy

1964

The Big Parade of Comedy

as

Ninotchka in 'Ninotchka' (archive footage)

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

2009

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

as

Self (archive footage)

Greta Garbo: A Lone Star

2001

Greta Garbo: A Lone Star

as

Self (archive footage)

A Fortune Hunter

1921

A Fortune Hunter

as

Maid

A Scarlet Angel

1922

A Scarlet Angel

as

Extra

Stiller, Garbo & jag

1988

Stiller, Garbo & jag

as

(archive footage)

30 Years of Fun

1963

30 Years of Fun

as

(archive footage)

The Meeting of Two Queens

1991

The Meeting of Two Queens

as

(archive footage)

Sweden and Swedish Industries

1920

Sweden and Swedish Industries

as

Self

Stars of the Silver Screen - Greta Garbo

2014

Stars of the Silver Screen - Greta Garbo

as

The Marriage of Greta Garbo and Sergei Eiseinstein

2023

The Marriage of Greta Garbo and Sergei Eiseinstein

as

Spécial cinéma

Spécial cinéma

as

Self (archive footage)

Production

Crew

Directing