Despite not being an anglophone, Mayer made her the next big star of Hollywood.
By the time she got settled in her new home, most of her Swedish identity was hidden.
After a year of living in America, her sister died
Tragedy seemed to follow Greta Garbo.
Within a year of living in the U.S., her sister died back in Sweden.
While Garbo was on a one-way train to stardom, her personal life was crumbling to bits and pieces.
However, tragedy struck again.
This is why she received the nickname “The Swedish Sphinx.”
Garbo didn’t merely request privacy from her adoring fans, she also wanted it on set.
The director goes out for a coffee or a milkshake" (via The New York Times).
Garbo lost that battle, and Mamoulian stayed on set for the scene.
This may have caused some confusion leading people to suspect she was a spy.
Eventually, the Swedish actress was bringing in $270,000 a picture.
It was a mix of bad circumstances and a movie flop that led her to disappear from the limelight.
Garbo tried to negotiate her salary after “Two-Faced Woman” but the studio declined.
As quickly as she rose to stardom, she swiftly disappeared and declined any subsequent roles offered to her.
Garbo called herself a wanderer" and did just that in her retirement years.
Although she attempted to slip into a normal routine, the world never forgot her.
This was the opposite of what the legendary movie-maker wanted.
I drive to the beach and take walks and that’s always marvellous.
But that’s it …" (viaSotheby’s).
She was known for walking the streets of Manhattan to the point where fans waited for and expected her.
Unfortunately, her privacy and boundaries were often ignored and overlooked by fans and the general public.
Reisfield died in 2017.
A lot about Garbo still remains a mystery that will never be completely solved.
