Greta Garbo And the Rise of the Modern Woman by Scott Reisfield

I am delighted to be sharing an extract today from Greta Garbo And the Rise of the Modern Woman by Scott Reisfield, Garbo’s great nephew. Published with Vendela Publishing on 30th April it is described as ‘the story of how one woman’s courage and artistry helped millions discover what it means to be modern and redefines Garbo’s legacy and the evolution of women’s roles in society.‘

“Her instinct, her mastery over the machine, was pure witchcraft. I cannot analyse this woman’s acting. I only know that no one else so effectively worked in front of a camera.” Bette Davis

“Garbo was my favourite actress in the world, a fascinating woman” Joan Crawford

“She was the Queen of Hollywood” Orson Welles

[ About The Book ]

Greta Garbo wasn’t just a film star—she was the blueprint for the Modern Woman. In a world still clinging to Victorian ideals, Garbo’s authentic artistry and bold choices broke through conventions and inspired two generations of women to redefine themselves. Greta Garbo and the Rise of the Modern Woman is the definitive biography that reveals how Garbo’s life and career sparked a global transformation in women’s roles, ambitions, and self-expression.

Garbo’s journey began in Sweden, where she left a working-class job to pursue her passion for acting. Her determination led her to Dramaten, one of the world’s finest drama schools, and soon she was outshining her peers. Garbo’s move to New York at just nineteen was marked by fierce contract negotiations with MGM as her letter of intent was invalid due to her age, but Garbo convinced them she could act. Also whilst in New York she sat for three iconic portrait sessions that revolutionized portrait photography.

On screen, Garbo led by example. Audiences and fellow actors alike were drawn to her commanding presence, and crowds gathered just to watch her work.

Garbo’s naturalistic acting style was revolutionary. Audiences believed they could see her thoughts on screen.Directors were astonished by her ability to create her own characters, and her acting style set a new standard for authenticity in film. She became an instant sensation, drawing crowds and captivating fellow actors. But Garbo’s influence extended far beyond Hollywood. MGM’s campaigns, combined with her own charisma, made her a beacon for middle-class women and female clerks—the Modern Women of her era. Garbo wasn’t just their idol—she was their muse, embodying the independence, ambition, and allure of the modern woman.

Behind the scenes, Garbo’s life was as compelling as her performances. Her relationships with director Mauritz Stiller and co-star John Gilbert added intrigue, while her battle with pernicious anaemia revealed her resilience.

A Unique Perspective from the Author, Scott Reisfield, Garbo’s great nephew

[ Extract ]

Chapter 9—Two Months in New York

They had this picture from Sweden, fourteen reels with Swedish subtitles, a very complicated story called The Saga of Gösta Berling. There were about seven or eight of us in the room. Nobody could follow the story. It was complicated, the titles were in Swedish, and nobody would have sat through the picture if it hadn’t been for this girl. They just waited for her to come on. Every time she came on, all the cutters went “Ahhh.”
Albert Lewin, director

Garbo and Stiller were only supposed to spend two weeks in New York before continuing on to Hollywood. Instead they would spend two months. The holdup was primarily Garbo’s contract. This period of Garbo’s life has been misunderstood by prior Garbo biographers in ways that serve to reduce her agency and the perception of MGM’s interest in her. The main point they miss is that Garbo arrived with negotiating leverage, and used it.

Garbo arrived in New York July 6, 1925, on the MS Drottingholm. Famously the only people to greet her as she disembarked were an MGM publicity man, the photographer he hired, and Kaj Gynt, a Swedish actor hired as a translator. The arrival of Garbo, director Mauritz Stiller, and Axel Nilsson, a Swedish lawyer who traveled with them, had generated a total of zero press attendees.

Garbo was unknown to the American public. But within two years she would become one of the leading actors in Hollywood, generate enormous profits for Loew’s, the company that owned both the studio she worked for and the best chain of first-run theaters, redefine film acting, embark on a celebrity love affair with John Gilbert, and walk out on MGM for six months in a contract dispute before finally signing a new lucrative star contract.

Garbo had already been announced in the trade press months before she arrived in New York. Variety misspelled her name. On April 8, 1925, the article stated that “MGM would spring a new screen star on their American public very shortly in the form of Greta Gerber, a Swedish picture star. Out at the Culver City studios plans are being formulated for an extensive exploitation and publicity campaign to be used in her behalf.”

Perhaps MGM learned from this that it would be better off holding its publicity fire until it had a film to work with. Garbo received limited press mentions until the release of her first film.

New York was just a waypoint on the trip to Hollywood. The initial plan as reported in the July 6 New York Daily News was for Garbo and Stiller to depart for Hollywood in two weeks’ time. Due to contract issues Garbo would be there for nearly two months. Both she and director Mauritz Stiller wanted contracts that were different from the letters of intent they had signed in January.

Hollywood was already talking about her. In August, while Garbo and Stiller were delayed in New York, Aftonbladet’s Hollywood reporter wrote back to Sweden, “Of Miss Garbo it has been said that she is undoubtedly the most beautiful and talented actress that film has.” One must conclude that this was the in-house MGM view regarding the potential of its new acquisition based on her European films.

[ Bio ]

As her great nephew, Scott Reisfield brings unmatched access and insight to this biography. Having travelled the world and delved into family archives, Reisfield separates fact from fiction, offering new revelations about Garbo’s legacy. His previous book, Garbo’s Garbos: Portraits from her Private Collection, (with Robert Dance) was a museum companion and international bestseller, selling over 12,500 copies in the US alone. He was also part of the documentary ‘Garbo: Where Did You Go?’ which aired on Sky Arts in 2024.