Ingrid Bergman
“A radiant, natural actress whose honesty on screen made her one of cinema's most beloved stars.”
In 1939 producer David O. Selznick brought Ingrid Bergman from Sweden to Hollywood to remake her film 'Intermezzo,' and her natural, luminous screen presence made her an instant star. Refusing to alter her name, eyebrows, or teeth, she redefined what a glamorous leading lady could be and rocketed to fame within a few years.
The Swede Who Stayed Herself
Brought to Hollywood in 1939, Bergman insisted on keeping her real name and natural looks at a time when studios reshaped their stars. Her fresh, unaffected beauty made her one of the most beloved actresses of the 1940s.
Scandal and Exile
Her 1950 affair with Roberto Rossellini, while both were married, ignited a moral firestorm in America. Effectively exiled, she made films in Italy before Hollywood welcomed her back with the Oscar-winning 'Anastasia' in 1956.
An Enduring Legacy
Bergman won three Academy Awards across three decades, a rare achievement. From 'Casablanca' to 'Murder on the Orient Express,' she remained a symbol of grace and resilience until her death in 1982.
Career Timeline
- 1915Born in Stockholm, Sweden
- 1939Hollywood debut in 'Intermezzo' for Selznick
- 1942Stars as Ilsa Lund in 'Casablanca'
- 1944Wins first Oscar for 'Gaslight'
- 1946Stars in Hitchcock's 'Notorious'
- 1950Rossellini affair sparks public scandal
- 1956Wins second Oscar for 'Anastasia'
- 1957Hollywood comeback after years in exile
- 1974Wins third Oscar for 'Murder on the Orient Express'
- 1982Dies in London on her 67th birthday
Biggest Hits
- She was denounced on the U.S. Senate floor in 1950 as 'a powerful influence for evil' over her affair with director Roberto Rossellini.
- She died on her 67th birthday, August 29, 1982, after a long battle with breast cancer.
The Moment You Remember
In <em>Casablanca</em>, the moment Ilsa enters Rick's Cafe and asks the piano player to perform "As Time Goes By" is among the most cherished in film. Bergman's mixture of longing and restraint in that scene, lit so memorably, became the emotional heart of the picture.
Portrait: Whitey Schafer · Public domain (PD-US, no notice; photographer d. 1951) · via Wikimedia Commons