Sincerely, Greta Garbo 16 September 2005 – 26 March 2006 "I've had a fabulous life", Greta Garbo said shortly before her death in 1990. Postmuseum pays homage to the great Swedish film star. The unique exhibition Sincerely, Greta Garbo that tells the story of her fantastic life and features photographs, art, many personal Garbo memorabilia and other items that have never been exhibited before. Greta in Stockholm Greta Gustafsson was born in 1905 and grew up in modest circumstances in the area of Stockholm referred to as 'Söder' (South Side). She was the youngest of three: Sven, Alva and Greta. The family's living quarters consisted of one room and a kitchen. Timid Greta had a lively imagination and left elementary school with passes in all subjects. When she left school, she started to work part-time as a "lather girl" in a barbershop in 'Söder'. Greta applied for a job as a trainee at the PUB department store in Stockholm. At the age of 15, she modelled hats for their sales catalogue. In 1922, she had a small part in the silent film 'Peter the Tramp' (Luffar-Petter). The film was made during the summer and in the autumn she was accepted as a pupil at the drama school at 'Dramatiska Teatern' in Stockholm. This was the beginning of the happiest period in Greta's life. At last she was able to do what she loved - perform! She made many friends and her world expanded. Gustafsson was exchanged for Garbo. The director Mauritz Stiller saw Greta in a student show and gave her the part of Elisabeth Dohna in the Saga of Gösta Berling. Her first big film role. Stiller was going to work in Hollywood. He demanded that the film mogul Louis B. Mayer give Greta Garbo a contract too. The journey had started for the divine Garbo. Greta in Hollywood In the summer of 1925, Greta Garbo left Sweden. Together with the film director Mauritz Stiller, she went to New York, and later on to Hollywood. The same year, she appeared in her first American film 'The Torrent'. It was the beginning of a fantastic career which ended in 1941 with the film 'Two-Faced Woman'. She made a total of twenty-four films in the USA, all produced by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, MGM. The first few years she suffered badly from homesickness, as can be seen from her letters to friends and family. With time, she became acclimatised and in 1951 she became a US citizen. At the height of her career in the 1930's, Greta Garbo was the highest paid woman in the USA. She was a tough negotiator when it came to money. If Greta's demands weren't met, she stayed at home. In 1954, she was awarded a special Oscar for her unforgettable film performances. Greta in New York After her last film, 'Two-Faced Woman', which premiered in December 1941, she retired. She was 36 years old and was to live for another 49 years. She wanted to live in a big anonymous city where she could hide. In 1953, Greta bought her apartment in New York and there she stayed for the rest of her life. She travelled a great deal, particularly to Switzerland, where she went for nearly 30 years. Greta now had all the time in the world; she filled her days with walking and swimming. Her friends were few and carefully selected. Greta gave up friends she didn't trust. She did her utmost to avoid publicity; made no films and gave no interviews. She often wore dark glasses and wigs to disguise her identity. Greta Garbo died on 15 April 1990, at the age of 85, in a New York hospital. She lies buried in Swedish soil. at the Skogskyrkogården' cemetery in Stockholm.

Greta Garbo on stamp issued the 23rd of September 2005. Originals: photography by Clarence Sinclair Bull taken during the filming of the movie As You Desire Me 1932. Letter dated 1926 from Greta Garbo to her friend Vera Schmiterlöw.