Top 10 Interesting Facts about Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman, Gaslight. Photo by MGM photographer. Wikimedia commons.

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Ingrid Bergman

Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who was born on the 29th of August of 1915 and died on the 29th of August 1982.

She is a renowned artist who has starred in various European and American films, television movies, and plays.

Prior to her professional acting career, Ingrid appeared in several native Swedish films. She landed about eleven roles in such films before attaining the age of 25. She later on at 27 landed her first leading role in the film, Intermezzo.

This was just the beginning of her prosperous acting career. Ingrid landed several acting posts during her career.

She, unfortunately, succumbed to cancer in the year 1982. She has been celebrated by stars for the achievements she accomplished in her acting career.

Here are 10 Interesting facts about Ingrid Bergman:

1. Ingrid Bergman was regarded as the ideal American Womanhood

The St James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture regarded Ingrid as the Ideal American Womanhood.

The St James Encyclopedia of Popular Culture is a resource that publishes articles on different topics. This source also regarded her as a suitable contender for the Hollywood Greatest leading actress.

Ingrid’s career began way back in Sweden before she even attained the age of 25. She stared in at least eleven of such films. Her character was mainly plagued with Uncertainty, fear, and anxiety.

She has also received recognition from other institutions because of her acting. The American Film Institute recognized her as the fourth greatest female screen legend. The institution is aimed at honoring the heritage of filmmaking in the United States.

2. She stared in eleven native Sweden films before she attained the age of 25

Ingrid Bergman in the film Casablanca. Photo by Unknown. Wikimedia Commons.

Prior to Ingrid landing her first leading role in the film Intermezzo in 1939, she appeared in several native Swedish films.

She landed about eleven roles in such films before attaining the age of 25. These films were her stepping stone as she met some of the biggest talents in Sweden. 

She was fortunate to meet Gösta Ekman, Karin Swanström, Victor Sjöström, and Lars Hanson. These films showcase her acting skills at a young age.

Her characters in the films were always plagued with uncertainty, fear, and anxiety.

3. At the age of 27, she got her first leading role in the film Intermezzo

Ingrid`s professional career began at the age of 27. However, prior to this, she starred in various Swedish films.

Her first introduction to the film industry was in the English-language remake of Intermezzo in 1939.

Intermezzo is an American romantic film that was remade in 1939 with Ingrid staring in it.

The film also starred Leslie Howard who took up the role of a married violinist who fell in love with his accompanist. His films won a contest associated with the original film`s production.

This was just the beginning of her acting career she has also starred in other films.

4. Ingrid played her last role in the television miniseries, A Woman Called Golda

Swedish actor Ingrid Bergman.Photo by Gösta Glase. Wikimedia Commons.

Ingrid played her last role in the television miniseries, A Woman Called Golda. The film stared other artists including Franklin Cover, Judy Davis, Annie Jackson, and Jack Thomson.

The film is a biopic of the late Prime Minister Golda Meir. Ingrid won her second Emmy Award because of the film. His was her last role in film-making as she died of breast cancer.

She had been battling the illness for quite some time before she succumbed to it on the 29th of August 1982.

5. Bergman was fortunate enough to work alongside her idol, Gosta Ekman

Ingrid was fortunate enough to work alongside her idol, Gosta Ekman. The film Swedenhielms is a drama film that stared Ingram and her idol.

She earned her spot in the film due to the previous successful films she had featured in. Ingrid has also worked alongside other prominent filmmakers during her career.

She worked alongside Ingrid Bergman, Sten Lindgren, and Tore Svennberg in the film Ocean Breakers. She played the role of a fisherman’s daughter in the film. 

 
6. Ingrid had many affairs with her co-stars and directors

Portrait of Ingrid Bergman. Photo by Unknown author. Wikimedia Commons.

Ingrid Bergman has had several affairs with her co-stars and directors in the film industry.

She briefly dated Spence Tracey during the filming of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. This was not the only affair as went on to date Gary Cooper while filming Whom the Bell Tolls.

She also dated her fair share of directors in the industry. Anthony Quinn mentioned in his autobiography that he has had an affair with Ingrid and others. She also had an affair with the director of Joan of Arc.

It is reported that even during her marriage she had an affair with the photographer, Robert Capa, and the actor Gregory Peck.

She revealed in her autobiography that she had been having an affair with Capa. Ingrid had demonstrated to Capa that she had wished to leave her husband for him.

She claimed that she had fallen in the love with him over the period of time they were together. Gregory Speck also confessed to Brad in an interview that he was in love with Bergman. 

7. Ingrid actively opposed racial segregation

Ingrid heavily opposed racial segregation of any kind, she believed in the equality of all races in all fields.

Her active participation against segregation was evident at the moment she protested to the newspaper regarding racial segregation after seeing it firsthand where she worked.

Ingrid believed in the inclusivity of all races. Ingrid`s actions led to great publicity against such segregation.

A bust of Bergman has been placed outside the Lisner Auditorium, in recognition of her protest, and as a reminder of the venue’s segregated past. 

8. Bergman received numerous awards and nominations 

Ingrid Bergman received several awards and nominations in her acting career. She depicted resilience as her illness did not stop her from taking up a new role in an upcoming series.

Ingrid became the second actress to win three Academy Awards. She received one for Best Actress and the other for Best Supporting Actress.

His was just the beginning of her awards as she subsequently tied with Oscar at second place for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. 

9. Ingrid died of breast cancer 

Ingrid Bergman in Amsterdam. Photo by Herbert Behrens / Anefo. Wikimedia Commons.

Ingrid discovered that she had a small lump on the underside of her left breast while filming, The Constant Wife. She underwent her first operation on the 15th of June 1974.

This was not the end of the illness as she discovered another lump while working on the film, Autumn Sonata.

She underwent the necessary surgery and went back to filming. She proceeded to rehearse for the film, Waters of the Moon. The film originally ran for two years at the Theatre Royal Haymarket.

Despite her illness, she agreed to play Golda Meir in 1981. Her illness worsened over time and at some point cancer had spread to her spine, collapsing her twelfth vertebra.

Her right lung no longer functioned, and only a small part of her left lung had not collapsed. On 29 August 1982 at midnight on her 67th birthday, Bergman died in London.

Ingrid was cremated t a private funeral in the attendance of close relatives and five friends.

10. Ingrid`s legacy remained alive even after her unfortunate death 

Ingrid`s death had been reported widely by mainstream media across the United States and Europe.

The news of Bergman’s death was widely reported by mainstream media across the United States and Europe.

Many reporters paid tribute to her work and her achievements over the period she had been acting.

The Washington Post paid tribute in an article titled ‘an actress whose innocent yet provocative beauty made her one of the greatest stars of stage and screen.

Her legacy still held on as some of her co-stars praised her tenacity, spirit, and warmth.

Several stars have honored her during her anniversary. Ingrid is definitely a force to reckon with as she received praise from her co-stars even after her unfortunate death.