Greta Garbo

Black and white headshot photograph of Greta Garbo with red text and two red stars on a white background around the rim

Swedish-American actress Greta Garbo (1905-1990) rose to fame during Hollywood’s silent and early Golden eras. Garbo is credited with introducing what is now known as “method acting,” a technique wherein actors strive to create authentic performances by “fully inhabiting” their character’s inner life and personality traits. This helps garner genuine emotionally-expressive performances that feel believable. 

Garbo had a certain allure about her. Considered glamorous, mysterious, and even a little aloof, Garbo came to be an enduring fashion icon. She represented a different type of movie star, one with more of an air of sophistication and less of innocence. She made her transition from silent films to the “talkies,” to great acclaim, with the movie Anna Christie (1930). Garbo later earned a Best Picuture Oscar win in 1932 with the movie Anna Karenina.