Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, 1905–1990) was a Swedish actress primarily known for her work in the United States during Hollywood's silent film period and part of its subsequent Golden Age. Born and raised in Stockholm, Sweden, she moved to Los Angeles, California in 1925 to develop her film career. She appeared in only 27 movies, yet she remains one of the most popular and recognizable Hollywood stars. The MGM marketing ploy "Garbo talks" became a catch-phrase of the 1930s. Her popularity with the Depression-era audiences allowed her to dictate the terms of her contract in 1932, and she became increasingly choosy about her roles. After 1941, she accepted no more roles, and retired to an apartment in New York City.
While studying about his soon-to-be-wife Princess Kristina at the Grantville Library, Prince Ulrik learned about Greta Garbo's performance as Christina in Queen Christina. Although there was no copy of Queen Christina, Ulrik questioned the local librarian about Garbo, who showed Ulrik pictures of the actress in one of the library's books. Ulrik admitted that Garbo was beautiful, but knew right away that her performance as Kristina had fictionalized the real Kristina's life to the point of absurdity, as she would never be anything close to "beautiful".
