Greta Garbo Answers Questions Aboard The MS Kungsholm October 7, 1938

Great Garbo (1905-1990) was never fond of the press. The star’s apocryphal line of “I want to be left alone” did apply to almost everyone outside of her circle of close friends.

So it was rather surprising that Garbo allowed reporters to speak with her, after staying in Europe for ten months. Traveling back to the United States aboard the Swedish American Line MS Kungsholm, 100 reporters gathered in he ship’s lounge to question the Swedish Sphinx. Garbo then cagily semi-answered their questions.

Garbo Talks

“Did you ever say I want to be left alone?” a reporter queried.

Garbo laughed and replied, “I don’t think I ever said that. If you didn’t haunt me, these silly things would not get into the papers.”

Why did Garbo not wish to speak with the press?

Garbo’s wise response was one by which modern celebrities might try to emulate. “I have nothing to contribute. It is all right if important people have something to contribute by talking. No, I don’t think I have contributed anything through my acting. At least I haven’t seen it yet. I wish I had.”

Garbo was peppered with multiple questions about her relationship with orchestra conductor Leopold Stokowski whom with she was seen frequently with while in Europe. Was she going to get married to Stokowski or was she already married to him?

“Let it remain a puzzle.” Garbo curtly replied. “I’m afraid you would all know if I were married, for nothing escapes you.”

If you were marrying, what sort of man would you marry?

“The right one.” Then Garbo added,  “No personal questions please.”

During the crossing a baby girl was born at sea to a 3rd class passenger, a Latvian, Mrs. S.T. Snesko-Sluizas on September 29.  Every day Garbo would visit the peculiarly named girl Atlanta Statse, in the ship’s hospital. Garbo and other passengers contributed to a fund to buy clothes for baby Atlanta.

“I am always very interested in babies.The birth of a baby is always a miracle.”

When asked if she would like to have children of her own Garbo shrugged and brusquely said, “No. The world seems much too difficult. I mean, partly, because of danger of war in the world. I would not want to raise a son or any children to go to war. But I don’t want to say any more about that. I don’t know anything about politics.”

The Mysterious Garbo

In this 1938 photograph Garbo looks remarkably modern. When not in front of the motion picture camera Garbo did not go for the movie star look. Garbo famously disdained all publicity- professional and personal.

There are other photographs from this press conference where Garbo’s outfit was slightly different than in our picture (the overcoat and gloves were ditched and a scarf added). To the right is a colorized photo I attempted to make from the original.

She was described as looking slender and pale with her blondish hair in a straight bob. Her fingernails were unpolished (though she is wearing gloves in this photo).  Besides a trace of blue eye shadow she was not wearing any make-up or jewelry. Her attire was also simple; underneath her coat, a blue tailored suit, a mannish shirt, (later adding a slate blue scarf), and blue suede low heeled pumps.

After docking, a fellow passenger, 16-year-old Edith Hedin, revealed to reporters that during Garbo’s daily dip in the swimming pool during the women’s hour, she wore only trunks, with no top. Hedin said Garbo swam very well but always kept her head above the water.

When Garbo arrived back in Hollywood in November, her loose hanging, shoulder length hair became the rage among the other stars.

Garbo had been gone so long that when she tried to enter the MGM studio gate, the guard stopped her. “Hey sista’, where da ya think your goin’?” he asked.

“I’m Greta Garbo.” she replied.

The guard was unimpressed and would not let her pass until a studio policeman walked by and greeted Garbo.

Since she was gone for almost a year, that entrance had been changed to be used only by extras.

Only three years after her return to America, Garbo’s career was over.

At the age of 36 in 1941, Garbo made her final film, Two-Faced Woman. During the 1940s Garbo was going to appear in other films. Financing or other circumstances prevented those films from materializing. Garbo was offered the role of Norma Desmond in Billy Wilder’s Sunset Boulevard (1950). She turned it down along with all subsequent  offers and never made another film. Garbo died April 15, 1990 in New York City of complications of renal failure and pneumonia .