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

• 1939: Secrets of Hollywood's Golden Year
• 2023The Marriage of Greta Garbo and Sergei Eiseinstein
• 2015Destins secrets d’étoiles - Grace, Jackie, Liz, Marilyn…
• 2012Final Cut: Ladies and Gentlemen — (archive footage)
• 2010Sigrid Holmquist — Sigrid Holmquist (archive footage)
• 2009Hollywood sul Tevere
• 2008Thou Shalt Not: Sex, Sin and Censorship in Pre-Code Hollywood — Queen Christina (archive footage)
• 1995Stjärnbilder — (archive footage)
• 1995The Casting Couch
• 1993Minns ni? — (archive footage)
• 1991The Meeting of Two Queens — (archive footage)
• 1988Stiller, Garbo & jag — (archive footage)
• The South Bank Show
• 1976That's Entertainment, Part II — (archive footage)
• 1969Marlowe — Grusinskaya(archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1964The Big Parade of Comedy — Ninotchka in 'Ninotchka' (archive footage)
• 196330 Years of Fun — (archive footage)
• 1941Two-Faced Woman — Karin Borg Blake
• 1939Ninotchka — Nina "Ninotchka" Ivanovna Yakushova
• 1937Conquest — Countess Marie Walewska
• 1936Camille — Marguerite Gautier
• 1935Anna Karenina — Anna Karenina
• 1935Do You Remember? — (archive footage)
• 1934Queen Christina — Christina
• 1934The Painted Veil — Katrin Koerber Fane
• 1932As You Desire Me — Zara, a.k.a. Maria
• 1932Grand Hotel — Grusinskaya
• 1931Fröken, Ni liknar Greta Garbo! — (archive footage)
• 1931Inspiration — Yvonne Valbret
• 1931Mata Hari — Mata Hari
• 1931Susan Lenox — Helga, aka Susan Lenox
• 1930Anna Christie — Anna Christie
• 1930Anna Christie — Anna Christie
• 1930Romance — Rita Cavallini
• 1929A Man's Man — Greta Garbo
• 1929The Kiss — Irene
• 1929The Single Standard — Arden Stuart
• 1929Wild Orchids — Lillie Sterling
• 1929With Greta Garbo on the Swedish American Line's Ship
• 1928A Woman of Affairs — Diana Merrick
• 1928The Divine Woman — Marianne
• 1928The Mysterious Lady — Tania Fedorova
• 1927Love — Anna Karenina
• 1926Flesh and the Devil — Felicitas
• 1926The Temptress — Elena
• 1926Torrent — Leonora Moreno
• 1926Vårt kronprinspar i Hollywood
• 1925Joyless Street — Greta Rumfort
• 1924The Saga of Gösta Berling — Elizabeth Dohna
• 1922A Scarlet Angel — Extra
• 1922Peter the Tramp — Greta
• 1921A Fortune Hunter — Maid
• 1921Our Daily Bread — Companion
• 1920Mr. and Mrs. Stockholm Out Shopping — Elder Sister/Mannequin

Appearances as themselves (34)

• 2024Garbo: Where Did You Go? — Self (archive footage)
• 2022Azzedine Alaïa, un couturier français — Self (archive footage)
• 2022Prejudice and Pride: Swedish Film Queer — Self (archive footage)
• 2018Scotty and the Secret History of Hollywood — Self (archive footage)
• 2016My Scientology Movie — Self (archive photo)
• 2014Stars of the Silver Screen - Greta Garbo — Self (archive footage)
• 2011Vito — Self (archive footage)
• 2010Rediscovering John Gilbert — Self (archive footage)
• 20091939: Hollywood's Greatest Year — Self (archive footage)
• 2007Why Be Good?: Sexuality & Censorship in Early Cinema — Self (archive footage)
• 2005Garbo — Self (archive footage)
• 2004Checking Out: Grand Hotel — Self / Various roles (archive footage)
• 2003Cole Porter in Hollywood: Satin and Silk — Self (archive footage)
• 2003Complicated Women — Self (archive footage)
• 2001Greta Garbo: A Lone Star — Self (archive footage)
• 1996Joan Crawford: Always the Star — Self (archive footage)
• 1996The Good, The Bad, and the Beautiful — Self (archive footage)
• 1995Legends in Light: The Photography of George Hurrell — Self (archive footage)
• 1995The First 100 Years: A Celebration of American Movies — Self (archive footage)
• 1990The Divine Garbo — Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1986Greta Garbo: The Temptress and the Clown — Self (archive footage)
• 1974Adam & Yves — Herself (uncredited)
• Spécial cinéma — Self (archive footage)
• 1972Hollywood: The Dream Factory — Self (archive footage)
• 1969Garbo, by Joan Crawford — Self (archive footage)
• 1969The Happy Ending — Self - Actress in 'Susan Lennox' (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 1961Hollywood: The Selznick Years — Self - Anna Karenina (archive footage) (uncredited)
• MGM Parade — Self, self
• 1949Testfilm Greta Garbo — Self
• 1940A New Romance of Celluloid: The Miracle of Sound — Self
• 1940Hollywood: Style Center of the World — Self
• 1939From the Ends of the Earth — Self
• 1937The Romance of Celluloid — Self (archive footage)
• 1920Sweden and Swedish Industries — Self