History
“I wish I were supernaturally strong so I could put right everything that is wrong.” - Greta Garbo
Greta Garbo, born in Stockholm, Sweden on September 18, 1905 began her career in Europe as a reclusive star before going to the United States. She had a sensual and mysterious look which made her a hit with the American audiences in both sound and silent movies. Before World War II where she stopped her career as an actress, she was nominated for four Oscars and even won an honorary award.
On April 15, 1990, she died in New York City.
Greta Garbo spent her life in despair and isolation because she wanted to be together with her girlfriend, the Swedish actress Mimi Pollak. She didn’t want to be alone and feel isolated.
Bloody Beloved Kid, was a book written by Tin Andersen Axell. It was based on Garbo's letters to Pollak. The title of Axell's book is based on the first words of a 1924 letter from Garbo to Pollak whom she calls Mimosa in which she wrote: 'The letter from you has aroused a storm of longing within me.' Her professional name, Garbo, is said to have been invented by Mimi Pollak. In her letters, she describes herself as 'slow, tired, boring' when being so far from her girlfriend.
She remained obsessed with Pollak even after Pollak married in 1928. 'I dream of seeing you and discovering whether you still care as much about your old bachelor. I love you, little Mimosa.' Two years later, when Pollak announced to Greta that she was pregnant, she wrote: 'We cannot help our nature, as God has created it. But I have always thought you and I belonged together.' Later, in a telegram to mark the birth of Pollak's son, she wrote: 'Incredibly proud to be a father.'
Greta Garbo, born in Stockholm, Sweden on September 18, 1905 began her career in Europe as a reclusive star before going to the United States. She had a sensual and mysterious look which made her a hit with the American audiences in both sound and silent movies. Before World War II where she stopped her career as an actress, she was nominated for four Oscars and even won an honorary award.
On April 15, 1990, she died in New York City.
Greta Garbo spent her life in despair and isolation because she wanted to be together with her girlfriend, the Swedish actress Mimi Pollak. She didn’t want to be alone and feel isolated.
Bloody Beloved Kid, was a book written by Tin Andersen Axell. It was based on Garbo's letters to Pollak. The title of Axell's book is based on the first words of a 1924 letter from Garbo to Pollak whom she calls Mimosa in which she wrote: 'The letter from you has aroused a storm of longing within me.' Her professional name, Garbo, is said to have been invented by Mimi Pollak. In her letters, she describes herself as 'slow, tired, boring' when being so far from her girlfriend.
She remained obsessed with Pollak even after Pollak married in 1928. 'I dream of seeing you and discovering whether you still care as much about your old bachelor. I love you, little Mimosa.' Two years later, when Pollak announced to Greta that she was pregnant, she wrote: 'We cannot help our nature, as God has created it. But I have always thought you and I belonged together.' Later, in a telegram to mark the birth of Pollak's son, she wrote: 'Incredibly proud to be a father.'
My opinion
The reason why I chose Greta Garbo is because she is the perfect example that shows that not only men held homosexual activities at that time. It also shows that even though she was far away from her girlfriend she never once cheated on her because she loved her. Even if Mimi Pollak was married and pregnant with another man, she still loved her. This in a way also shows that women hid their homosexuality by getting married and having children, which was not the case of Garbo who stayed loyal to her lover even if living far away from her. And again, she might have been homosexual, but that doesn’t change the fact that she a known actress accepted by many.