Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo Facts
| Sign | Virgo |
| Born |
Sep 18, 1905 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Died |
Apr 15, 1990 New York City, NY |
| Age | Died at 84 |
| Total Facts | 63 |
She disliked Clark Gable, a feeling that was mutual. She thought his acting was wooden while he considered her a snob.
She was Adolf Hitler's favorite actress.
She was as secretive about her relatives as she was about herself, and, upon her death, the names of her survivors could not immediately be determined.
She was originally chosen for the lead roles in The Paradine Case (1947), My Cousin Rachel (1952), and The Wicked Dutchess. Garbo turned down these roles, with the exception of The Wicked Dutchess, which was never shot due to financial problems.
She was voted the 25th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
She was voted the 8th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Premiere Magazine.
Sister of Sven and Alva.
Spanish sculptor Pablo Gargallo created three pieces based on Garbo: "Masque de Greta Garbo à la mèche," "Tête de Greta Garbo avec chapeau," and "Masque de Greta Garbo aux cils."
Throughout her entire MGM career, she insisted that William H. Daniels be cinematographer on her pictures. This may not have been purely superstition, as the two notable films she made without him--Conquest (1937) and Two-Faced Woman (1941)- were her only notable flops.
Was named #5 Actress on The American Film Institute's 50 Greatest Screen Legends
Was offered the role of Mama Hanson in I Remember Mama (1948), but she turned it down. Irene Dunne was cast instead and went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance.
Was offered the role of Norma Desmond in Sunset Blvd. (1950), but she turned it down. Gloria Swanson was cast instead and she went on to receive a Best Actress Oscar nomination for her performance.
When she heard that David O. Selznick, who had produced her hit Anna Karenina (1935), was leaving MGM in 1935 to start his own studio, she begged him to stay, promising that she would let him personally supervise all of her pictures exclusively. He said that it would be a great honor, but he had other plans. Ironically, the usually very finicky Irving Thalberg, Garbo's other favorite producer, was the first person to give Selznick money to start his company ($200,000).