(Greta Gustafsson; 1905-90), Swedish-born U.S. actress. The aloof and beautiful Garbo became one of the world's great actresses, starring in such silent films as The Torrent (1926), Flesh and the Devil (1927), and Wild Orchids (1929). Unlike some who started in silent films, Garbo, who had a mellow husky voice, made a successful transition to sound films. Anna Christie (1930), Anna Karenina (1935), and Camille (1937) are some of the best known. Her Ninotchka, made with Melvyn Douglas in 1939, ranks as a classic American film. In 1941 Garbo retired to an intensely private life.
