Greta Lovisa Gustafsson grew up in a working-class Swedish family, the youngest of three children. Her father, a laborer, died when she was fourteen. She left school in her early teens and took jobs in a barbershop and at the PUB department store, where she modeled hats and appeared in advertising shorts. Those assignments led to small roles in Swedish films and, eventually, to the Royal Dramatic Theatre's acting school.
While she was studying there, director Mauritz Stiller cast her in The Saga of Gösta Berling (1924) and gave her the name Greta Garbo. Stiller became her mentor, and the film's international release brought her to the attention of MGM. She signed with the studio and arrived in Hollywood in 1925. Her first American film, The Torrent (1926), was followed by Flesh and the Devil (1926), a hit with John Gilbert that established her as a major star. Silent successes included Love (1927) and The Wind (1928), and she made a successful transition to sound in Anna Christie (1930), earning an Academy Award nomination.
Garbo received further Oscar nominations for Romance (1930), Camille (1936), and Ninotchka (1939). Among her best-known films were Grand Hotel (1932), Queen Christina (1933), and Anna Karenina (1935); Camille is often singled out as her finest performance. Ninotchka, directed by Ernst Lubitsch, revealed a gift for comedy. After the disappointing Two-Faced Woman (1941), she left acting and resisted repeated offers to return. She became a U.S. citizen in 1951 and spent most of her later life in New York, avoiding publicity and refusing interviews. In 1955 the Academy gave her an honorary award for her screen work. She never married and died in New York City in 1990.
Greta Garbo was born on September 18, 1905 in Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden. In Cardology (Destiny Cards), September 18, 1905 corresponds to the Six of Clubs, making the Six of Clubs her Birth Card.
In numerology, the name adds another layer to the birth-date profile. The letters of a person’s name are used to explore inner motivation, personality, expression, and the qualities they bring into relationships and everyday life. Explore how her original name Greta Lovisa Gustafsson influences her life and personality.
Famous Virgo People
Discover famous Virgo people, from actors and musicians to writers, athletes, and historical figures. Explore their birthdays and biographies, and see who shares the Virgo zodiac sign.
