How old was Greta Garbo when she retired from the movie business; and, why did she retire?

BRY2K

She stopped making films in 1941, refused all attempts to lure her back to Hollywood, and settled in New York City. She dropped from public life entirely, and her solitary nature -- combined with her earlier movie mystique -- earned her a reputation as a romantic recluse. Garbo was 36. Garbo's retirement from films did not mark the end of a very busy, independent life. Without the pressures of film-making, Garbo had the opportunity to turn to other creative pursuits such as painting, poetry, creative design of clothing and furnishings, gardening, and a rigorous daily exercise routine. By her own admission, Garbo felt that after World War II the world changed, perhaps forever. Her movies, she felt, had their proper place in history and would gain in value. In 1951, she became an American citizen. She was awarded a special Academy Award for unforgettable performances in 1954. In the mid 1950s, she bought a seven room apartment in New York City at 450 East 52nd Street, where she lived for the rest of her life. http://www.answers.com/topic/greta-garbo http://www.biographybase.com/biography/Garbo_Greta.html Apr 11 10, 3:19 PM

star_gazer

Soon after her career took off, Garbo became known as a recluse; throughout her lifetime she conducted no interviews, signed no autographs, attended no social functions and answered no fan mail...Garbo neither married nor had children; she lived alone. Garbo suffered from periods of depression, and has been described in various private letters as being narcissistic, possessive, and supposedly ashamed of her father, a latrine cleaner. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greta_Garbo Apr 11 10, 5:27 PM