Home> Facts and Trivia > Stars > Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman Facts
| Sign | Virgo |
| Born |
Aug 29, 1915 Stockholm, Sweden |
| Died |
Aug 29, 1982 Chelsea, London |
| Age | Died at 67 |
| Total Facts | 107 |
Industrialist Howard Hughes once bought every available seat from New York to Los Angeles to be sure she would accept a ride in his private plane.
Is one of twelve actresses to have won the Triple Crown of Acting (an Oscar, Emmy and Tony); the others in chronological order are Helen Hayes, Shirley Booth, Liza Minnelli, Rita Moreno, Maureen Stapleton, Jessica Tandy, Audrey Hepburn, Anne Bancroft, Vanessa Redgrave, Maggie Smith and Ellen Burstyn.
Lived in five interesting cities in five different countries; Stockholm, Hollywood, Rome, Paris and London.
Many of her shorter male co-stars, such as Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains, had to wear lifts to avoid looking small next to this 5' 10" beauty.
Married Lars Schmidt in Caxton Hall next to Westminster Abbey, London, England, UK.
MGM had originally cast her in the Beatrix Emery role in Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1941) and Lana Turner in the Ivy Peterson role. Bergman felt the role of Ivy was more challenging and persuaded the studio to let her switch roles with Turner.
Mother of Isabella Rossellini, Isotta Rossellini and Pia Lindström (born 1938). Also, mother of Roberto Ingmar Rosselini (born 1950).
No relation to Swedish director Ingmar Bergman, although the fact that his wife was also a Swedish actress named Ingrid Bergman--also no relation--confused matters greatly.
On Broadway, her portrayal of Joan of Arc, in Maxwell Anderson's "Joan of Lorraine", won her an Antoinette Perry award--the "Tony"--the highest honor in the American theater.
On file at the Berlin Document Center, an archive of documents from the Nazi era, is a special certificate for her to appear in a German film. This must have been from a time very early in her career when she was still acting in Sweden, long before she came to America and is no reflection on her political views or ideals.
On the first anniversary of her death, stars, friends and family came to Venice Film Festival to honor her. Among the many guests were Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, Walter Matthau, Charlton Heston, Roger Moore, Claudette Colbert, Olivia de Havilland and Prince Albert of Monaco.
On their last meeting, Alfred Hitchcock was in tears, terrified of his impending death. Suffering from the cancer that would kill her, Bergman told him, "But of course you are going to die sometime, Hitch, we are all going to die." She later recalled that the comment seemed to bring him peace; it was a bittersweet goodbye. Hitchcock died in 1980, followed by Bergman in 1982.
One day at the studio she hooked bumpers with another car. A studio policeman found her tugging and heaving with all her might. The policeman said, "Darndest thing I ever saw. First film star I ever knew that didn't mind getting her hands dirty".
One of the first tall leading ladies in Hollywood in an era where most famous actresses were just over five feet.
President of the jury at the Cannes Film Festival in 1973.
Received a fan letter from James Stewart on his way to combat duty for World War II (1943).
Received a fascinating 1939 telegram from the great Greta Garbo reading, "I would like to see you when I am free, if you would be willing".
Received the (at the time) enormous amount of $129,000 for her role in Maxwell Anderson's "Joan of Lorraine" on Broadway. She also received at least 21 awards for that play.
Returned to work eight months after giving birth to her daughter Pia Lindström in order to film Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939).
Sergio Scaglietti, Ferrari's master coachbuilder and aluminum sculptor, shaped some the most beautiful Ferraris of the '50s and '60s, including the 375MM built in 1954 for her. That "Ingrid" car has, in turn, inspired the proportions of today's 612 Scaglietti, the largest Ferrari ever (there's even a silver "Ingrid" paint option).
Shares the distinction with actors José Ferrer, Helen Hayes and Fredric March of being the first winners of acting Tony Awards when the annual event was established in 1947.
She and Roberto Rossellini made 6 movies together: The Greatest Love (1952), Giovanna d'Arco al rogo (1954), Fear (1954), Of Life and Love (1953), Stromboli (1950) and Journey to Italy (1954).
She and her husband were often invited to dinner parties at the home of Alfred Hitchcock. According to those present, she never seemed to notice that her host was sulking because of his crush on her.
She and her third husband, Lars Schmidt, had their own island called Danholmen, off the coast of Sweden.
She broke her foot at the beginning of the American run of "The Constant Wife" and played the next five weeks in a wheelchair.
She considered herself somehow awkward because of her tallness. In Anastasia (1956) she suggested putting a little block under Yul Brynner. He refused, saying, "You think I want to play it standing on a box? I'll show the world what a big horse you are!".
She had a reputation as a tough negotiator. David O. Selznick said of her, "Her angelic nature is not above being tarnished by matters of mere money".
She has the distinction of having inadvertently been one of the first Hollywood performers to help break down the studio contract system.
She is the favorite actress of poet Cheryl Scott.
She played the part of Joan of Arc three times in her career: on stage in 1946 (in Maxwell Anderson's 'Joan of Lorraine') and on film in 1948 (Joan of Arc (1948)) and 1954 (Giovanna d'Arco al rogo (1954)).
She was ranked #5 in the Premiere's list of "The 50 Greatest Movie Stars of All Time"
She was sitting in a Paris bathtub in 1957, listening to the Oscars broadcast on the radio, when she heard Cary Grant, her friend for many years, accept her Best Actress award. Her Notorious (1946) and Indiscreet (1958) costar also introduced her when she returned to the Oscars in 1959 to present Gigi (1958) with Best Picture honors. The standing ovation that followed was as thunderous as any in Oscar history.
She was voted the 12th Greatest Movie Star of all time by Entertainment Weekly.
She wasn't nominated for Best Actress in her role as the sultry Ilsa, but for her role in For Whom the Bell Tolls (1943), losing to her close friend Jennifer Jones for The Song of Bernadette (1943). It was also newcomer Jones' 25th birthday, and after winning when Bergman congratulated her, she apologized, saying, "Ingrid, you should have won." Bergman said, "No, Jennifer, your Bernadette was better than my Maria.".
Son Roberto "Robertino" Rossellini was engaged to Princess Caroline of Monaco in 1983.
Swedes are very proud of Bergman. They even have "Ingrid Bergman Square" with a statue of the screen goddess looking out over the water to her former home. Her ashes were scattered over the sea nearby.
The British magazine 'Harpers and Queen' ranked her fifth on their 'The World's 50 most Alluring Women. Audrey Hepburn was first, followed by Ava Gardner, Julie Christie, and Catherine Deneuve.
The San Francisco Chronicle's "The Objects Of Our Affection" ranked her fourth in the female category after Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Marilyn Monroe.
The very first Montreal World Film Festival was held in 1977. The festivities were opened by Bergman, who was joined by such greats as Fay Wray, Gloria Swanson, Howard Hawks and Jean-Luc Godard. It was the only non-competitive year of the festival's history.
To prepare for her role of Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, in A Woman Called Golda (1982) (TV), she traveled around Israel and interviewed those who had known Golda. She spent hours studying old newsreels to master Golda's mannerisms. She was 66 years old at the time.
To promote her film Joan of Arc (1948), the studio placed an eight-story-high figure of her in white plastic armor in New York City's Times Square, at a cost of $75,000.
Took a $7000 pay cut to appear in Casablanca (1942). David O. Selznick gave her the role, not giving her an option to take it or not.
Took acting class from Michael Chekhov in Hollywood.
Turned down the role opposite Charlton Heston in Planet of the Apes (1968).
Upon accepting her Oscar for Murder on the Orient Express (1974), she apologized to fellow actress Valentina Cortese, who was nominated for Day for Night (1973), saying that she would have deserved the award more.
Visited Hotel Panamonte in Panama so frequently, her favorite suite was kept on reserve. Flavored with vibrations from Hollywood's "Golden Heyday," her luxurious rooms retain their original décor.
Was a good friend of author Ernest Hemingway, whom she called "Papa." He, in turn, called her "Daughter.".
Was fluent in English, Swedish, French, German and Italian.
Was named #4 on The Greatest Screen Legends actress list by the American Film Institute.
Was nominated as Best Actress (Autumn Sonata) for the 1979's Academy Award but was too sick to show up. Bergman however lost to Coming Home's Jane Fonda.