Greta Garbo: The Legendary Star of the Silent Film Era
Opened in Pera, the heart of İstanbul, towards the end of the 19th century, Pera Palace Hotel is one of the most special structures in the city that have witnessed history. Originally built to accommodate Orient Express passengers, this historical hotel has hosted many famous names from Agatha Christie to Alfred Hitchcock. One of the important names who preferred Pera Palace Hotel to stay during their visit to İstanbul was Greta Garbo, the iconic actress of Hollywood’s silent film era. If you wish, we can discover the life of Greta Garbo, the legendary star of the silent film era, the days that she spent in İstanbul and the Greta Garbo corner rooms at the hotel.
A Star is Born: Greta Garbo
One of the most notable and popular movie stars, Greta Garbo, was born on September 18, 1905, in Stockholm, Sweden with the name Greta Lovisa Gustafson. Born at a time when her family was struggling financially, Greta had a difficult childhood. Greta’s father was unable to find the opportunities that he wanted in business life and was now having difficulty working due to his health problems. This situation led her to drop out of school when she was only 13 and start taking care of her father.
Greta, who had a deep relationship with her father, lost her father when she was 15, and this event completely changed her perspective on life. The financial difficulties that her family experienced led her to promise herself that she would build a life with financial security. The young girl, who had to start working at an early age, had talent in front of the camera, proving that she would become a famous star in the future. She managed to catch a bigger opportunity by winning a scholarship to the Royal Dramatic Theater, one of the most prestigious schools in Sweden.
In 1924, Greta met Mauritz Stiller, the leading silent film director of Sweden. The director, who gave her the name Garbo, wanted the young actress to star in his new film The Legend of Gosta Berling. Greta Garbo’s meeting with Stiller was one of the most important turning points that changed her career and life. The path of this young actress, whose star was rising, also crossed to İstanbul that same year for a different silent film project.
The Arrival of the Ice Queen in İstanbul
Greta Garbo arrived in İstanbul in 1924 on the Orient Express, a luxury train of the time, for the filming of Bir İstanbul Hikâyesi, directed by Mauritz Stiller. Pera Palace Hotel was one of the best options for accommodation at that time, just like today. For this reason, Garbo also preferred this prestigious place to accommodate.
Pera Palace Hotel, where she stayed during her trip, managed to fascinate Greta Garbo as well as other guests with its magnificent interior and exterior architecture. Garbo, who stayed in one of the most luxurious rooms of the hotel, was treated with great interest by the hotel staff. The dignitaries of the Swedish Consulate also organized a magnificent banquet at Pera Palace Hotel for Garbo, who was said to be the queen of the hotel. It is known that Garbo was particularly fascinated by the Turkish culture of hosting guests and their dishes such as stuffed vine leaves with olive oil during this period.
The Ice Queen spent approximately 50 days in İstanbul. During this time, Greta Garbo, who benefited from the luxurious accommodation services of Pera Palace Hotel and explored İstanbul, left İstanbul due to the cancellation of the shooting of the movie Bir İstanbul Hikâyesi. The film Bir İstanbul Hikâyesi was never filmed but Greta Garbo’s memory continues to live on in the concept rooms of the Pera Palace Hotel to this day.
A Journey Through History in the Theme Rooms of the Pera Palace Hotel: Greta Garbo Corner Rooms
Pera Palace Hotel, which has hosted special guests such as Ernest Hemingway, Pierre Loti, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis throughout history, also draws attention with its theme rooms that keep the memories of these distinguished names alive. One of the rooms of the historical hotel, specially prepared for distinguished guests and captivating with its magnificent design, is the Greta Garbo Corner Rooms. Named after Garbo, who managed to become an icon with her extraordinary acting talent and especially her stance on important issues such as gender inequality, these rooms also provide you with an extraordinary accommodation experience with their scenery of Tepebaşı and Taksim.
Although Greta Garbo passed away in 1990, her memory and the traces that she left behind are still alive in the Pera Palace Hotel. If you would like to witness the enchanting beauty of the past, you can stay in the meticulously prepared Greta Garbo Corner Rooms.
