You might remember Greta Garbo's iconic line, "I vant to be alone!" from the 1932 film Grand Hotel. It became her defining phrase, but here's the twist—Greta didn’t necessarily mean it the way everyone thought. After she retired from movies in 1941, she gained a reputation as a recluse. However, a new biography by Donna Rifkind, The Sun and Her Stars: Salka Viertel and Hitler’s Exiles in the Golden Age of Hollywood, paints a different picture of Greta. Turns out, she wasn’t always the loner everyone assumed she was.
Greta Garbo: Not the Recluse She Seemed
“Greta was not this reclusive, Sunset Boulevard–type figure,” Rifkind exclusively shared with Closer Weekly in the magazine's latest issue, available now on newsstands. “She was a fairly friendly person.” Imagine that—Greta Garbo, the enigmatic star, enjoying social connections and friendships. The truth is often more complex than the myths that surround someone. Greta was no exception.
Greta and Salka: A Friendship That Transcended Hollywood
Greta’s bond with Salka Viertel, a fellow émigré from Europe, was particularly special. Salka acted opposite Greta in the German-language version of Anna Christie in 1930 and later wrote many of Greta’s films in America. “Their relationship was one of the most inspiring in Hollywood,” Rifkind said. “They had a business relationship that was incredibly fruitful, and a lasting personal friendship.” It wasn’t just about work—it was about mutual respect and admiration.
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Their friendship sparked rumors of something more romantic, but Rifkind insists there’s no evidence to support that. Greta never married or had children, but Salka "identified very strongly as heterosexual," Rifkind explained. “She was a devoted wife and a mother of three.” The truth is simpler: they were two women who deeply appreciated each other's company.
Two Women Who Stood the Test of Time
Even after Greta left the spotlight, she never drifted away from Salka. “They genuinely loved each other and clung to each other,” Rifkind noted. “Their personal friendship was always strong. When they were both living in New York City, they saw each other all the time.”
Salka eventually moved to Switzerland, and Greta made it a point to visit her there every summer. They’d go hiking together, sharing memories and laughter. Both women lived well into their 80s, and their friendship remained unshaken until the very end. Rifkind emphasized, “Their friendship was ironclad.”
Through their careers and personal lives, they demonstrated what women could achieve together in a challenging industry. “They showed what women could do for each other in a business environment,” Rifkind concluded.
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