Greta Garbo

Born 1905 • Stockholm, Stockholms län, Sweden

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.

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Filmography

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2024

Garbo: Where Did You Go?

Directed by Lorna Tucker

as Self (archive footage)

The Marriage of Greta Garbo and Sergei Eiseinstein

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2023

The Marriage of Greta Garbo and Sergei Eiseinstein

Directed by Mark Rappaport

as —

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2022

Prejudice and Pride: Swedish Film Queer

Directed by Eva Beling

as Self (archive footage)

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

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2018

Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood

as Self (archive footage)

Stars of the Silver Screen - Greta Garbo

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2014

Stars of the Silver Screen - Greta Garbo

Directed by Lyndy Saville

as Self (archive footage)

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2012

Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen

as (archive footage)

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2010

Sigrid Holmquist

Directed by Maria Norrman

as Sigrid Holmquist (archive footage)

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2010

Rediscovering John Gilbert

Directed by Jeffrey Vance

as Self (archive footage)

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2009

1939: Hollywood's Greatest Year

as Self (archive footage)

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2009

Paris Hilton, Inc.

as Self (archive footage)

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2009

Hollywood sul Tevere

Directed by Marco Spagnoli

as —

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2005

Garbo

Directed by Christopher Bird

as Self (archive footage)

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2004

Checking Out: Grand Hotel

as Self / Various roles (archive footage)

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk

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2003

Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk

as Self (archive footage)

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2003

Complicated Women

as Self (archive footage)

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2001

Greta Garbo: A Lone Star

Directed by Steve Cole

as Self (archive footage)

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1996

Joan Crawford: Always the Star

as Self (archive footage)

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1995

Stjärnbilder

Directed by Leif Furhammar

as (archive footage)

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1993

Minns ni?

Directed by Leif Furhammar

as (archive footage)

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1991

The Meeting of Two Queens

Directed by Cecilia Barriga

as (archive footage)

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1990

The Divine Garbo

Directed by Susan F. Walker

as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)

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1988

Stiller, Garbo & jag

Directed by Claes Olsson

as (archive footage)

Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown

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1986

Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown

Directed by Dan Säll

as Self (archive footage)

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1976

That's Entertainment, Part II

as (archive footage)

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1974

Adam & Yves

Directed by Peter de Rome

as Herself (uncredited)

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1972

Hollywood: The Dream Factory

as Self (archive footage)

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1969

Garbo, by Joan Crawford

Directed by Unknown

as Self (archive footage)

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1965

The Love Goddesses

Directed by Saul J. Turell

as (Archive Footage)

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1964

The Big Parade of Comedy

as Ninotchka in 'Ninotchka' (archive footage)

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1963

30 Years of Fun

Directed by Robert Youngson

as (archive footage)

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1949

Testfilm Greta Garbo

Directed by Unknown

as Self

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1941

Two-Faced Woman

Directed by George Cukor

as Karin Borg Blake

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

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1940

A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound

as Self

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1940

Hollywood: Style Center of the World

as Self

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1939

From the Ends of the Earth

as Self

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1939

Ninotchka

Directed by Ernst Lubitsch

as Nina "Ninotchka" Ivanovna Yakushova

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1937

Conquest

Directed by Clarence Brown

as Countess Marie Walewska

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1937

The Romance of Celluloid

as Self (archive footage)

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1936

Camille

Directed by George Cukor

as Marguerite Gautier

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1935

Anna Karenina

Directed by Clarence Brown

as Anna Karenina

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1935

Do You Remember?

Directed by Knut Martin

as (archive footage)

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1934

Queen Christina

Directed by Rouben Mamoulian

as Christina

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1934

The Painted Veil

Directed by Richard Boleslawski

as Katrin Koerber Fane

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1932

Grand Hotel

Directed by Edmund Goulding

as Grusinskaya

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1932

As You Desire Me

Directed by George Fitzmaurice

as Zara, a.k.a. Maria

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1931

Susan Lenox (Her Fall and Rise)

as Helga, aka Susan Lenox

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1931

Mata Hari

Directed by George Fitzmaurice

as Mata Hari

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1931

Inspiration

Directed by Clarence Brown

as Yvonne Valbret

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1931

Fröken, Ni liknar Greta Garbo!

Directed by Per-Axel Branner

as (archive footage)

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1930

Anna Christie

Directed by Clarence Brown

as Anna Christie

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1930

Romance

Directed by Clarence Brown

as Rita Cavallini

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1929

Wild Orchids

Directed by Sidney Franklin

as Lillie Sterling

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1929

With Greta Garbo on the Swedish American Line's Ship

Directed by Unknown

as —

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1929

A Man's Man

Directed by James Cruze

as Greta Garbo

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1929

The Single Standard

Directed by John S. Robertson

as Arden Stuart

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1929

The Kiss

Directed by Jacques Feyder

as Irene Guarry

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1928

The Mysterious Lady

Directed by Fred Niblo

as Tania Fedorova

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1928

A Woman of Affairs

Directed by Clarence Brown

as Diana Merrick

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1928

The Divine Woman

Directed by Victor Sjöström

as Marianne

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1927

Love

Directed by Edmund Goulding

as Anna Karenina

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1926

Flesh and the Devil

Directed by Clarence Brown

as Felicitas

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1926

Torrent

Directed by Monta Bell

as Leonora Moreno

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1926

The Temptress

Directed by Fred Niblo

as Elena

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1925

Joyless Street

Directed by G.W. Pabst

as Greta Rumfort

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1924

The Saga of Gösta Berling

Directed by Mauritz Stiller

as Elizabeth Dohna

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1922

Peter the Tramp

Directed by Erik A. Petschler

as Greta

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1922

A Scarlet Angel

Directed by John W. Brunius

as Extra

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1921

A Fortune Hunter

Directed by John W. Brunius

as Maid

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1921

Our Daily Bread

Directed by Ragnar Ring

as Companion

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1920

Mr. and Mrs. Stockholm Out Shopping

Directed by Ragnar Ring

as Elder Sister/Mannequin

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1920

Sweden and Swedish Industries

Directed by Unknown

as Self

About Greta Garbo

Known for: Acting