AYA * Ingrid Bergman, probably one of
the well known actresses in the catalogue of Oscar winning actresses to this day. And rightfully
so. Her own catalogue of films goes beyond American films. Her features in European cinema,
particularly Italian, german and Swedish made her an international star. Everybody wanted to
get Bergman into their films. She did as she pleased on and off screen. There was something
really refreshing about Ingrid Bergman, she was unbothered, intelligent and effortlessly cool. And
she also pulled one of the most iconic comebacks to Hollywood after an overly dramatized scandal.*
AYA Today you might remember her from
the movie Casablanca. But she actually did not win the Oscar for this film. But thats
okay because she won the Oscar on three other separate occasions and was nominated additionally
4 more times. AYA
The Swedish blonde who was about 5’10 in height, obviously began her career
being an extra in Swedish films and then received a scholarship to the royal dramatic theatre
school. She did not finish the school since she got cast in her first feature film at the age
of 19. Bergman always knew she’d be an actress. This aspiration was cultivated at an early age
by her parents who both unfortunately passed away before her teenage years. She went on to act in a
dozen of films, that put her on the map as a well established actress. After starring in Intermezzo
in 1936, she was recruited by David O. Selznick to reenact an english version of Intermezzo.
AYA When she arrived to Hollywood, they
wanted to change her whole image. She was too tall, her nose and eyebrows were too big,
her teeth crooked. And to top it all off, she did not speak English. But this image gave off
a regal and sophisticated vibe amidst all the peroxide blondes with fluttery eyelashes and
manicured eyebrows. Selznick cultivated the careers of Vivien Leigh and Jennifer Jones
who were previous years winners of the oscars. So we know Selznick you talent
when he saw it. His new project was Bergman. After the Hollywood version of Intermezzo:
A Love Story came out in 1939, everybody was drawn to Bergman and this film became a success.
AYA * Bergman was then cast in more
cinematic successes like Rage in Heaven and Adam Had Four Sons in which she would blow
everybody away not only by her performances but her dedication and professionalism on set. But
she was getting cast as these noble and proper women and she wanted to try something new. So she
persuaded producers to cast her in a villainous role in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. This was in 1941.*
AYA 1942 brought Casablanca to the
screen which starred Bergman and Humphrey Bogart. Just as he did with Jennifer Jones,
Selznick, a master manipulator, got Bergman roles that showed off her talent. And this
Steady Boosting got Bergman her first Oscar nom in 1944 for her role in for
whom the bell tolls. She lost to Jennifer Jones. But nonetheless, the following year in 1945,
Bergman won the well deserved Oscar for her role in Gaslight.
(MORE) 2.
AYA (CONT'D) In 46, she was Oscar nominated
again for The Bells of St Mary’s and again in 49 for Joan Of Arc. In between these
two nominations she starred in two of Alfred Hitchcock’s films, Spellbound and Notorious.
AYA At the end of the 1940’s, her films
were not received very well and she made a move to Italy. Her dream was to work with Roberto
Rossellini. When they got the chance to work together in Italy when she took a break from
Hollywood, they fell in love and started an affair. They both had spouses and children and
this whole ordeal was scrutinized by media on a whole other level. Suddenly everyone was on
their moral high horse in America and made this affair, that resulted in children out of wedlock,
a headlining scandal. But we know Ingrid did as she pleased. She got a divorce from her husband,
remarried to Rossellini and had her children in Italy, which off course
one of them is Isabella Rossellini who is a famous and seasoned actress in her own right.
AYA * Bergman shocked the whole
Hollywood system because suddenly she was not that angelic and righteous girl
that everyone believed she was. Now suddenly she was evil and a disgrace
to womanhood. Oh how times have changed. Or have they really? Double Standards. Bergman
in fact had previous affairs with other famous individuals like Spencer Tracy, Gregory Peck and
Victor Fleming.* AYA
But when it was time for Bergman to return to the place that made her a worldwide
icon, what was Hollywood to do?
(MORE) 3.
AYA (CONT'D) Exile her because her personal life
was a apparently a disgrace? Oh no, Bergman’s undeniable elegance and emotional intelligence
on screen was irreplaceable. And Bergman exhibited one of the coolest comebacks to
Hollywood in 1956. When she starred in Anastasia that costarred Helen Hayes who had received the
Oscar too. For this Bergman won her second Oscar in 1947. Bergman simultaneously starred in Swedish
and other European films. In 1975 Bergman won her third and final Oscar for her performance
in Murder On The Orient Express. She and Meryl Streep have both won three Oscars.
AYA On top of her film career, Bergman
succeeded in stage productions mainly on Broadway. But her film career is more iconic. Overall
Bergman won Oscars, a Tony, and Emmy, A Bafta and Golden Globe in her career with over 50 movies.
AYA * What makes Ingrid Bergman’s power
different from other powerhouses of women like Bette Davis or Katharine Hepburn,
is that she was assertive in a more softer, friendlier and feminine way. That is why everyone
in the film industry were obsessed with her. She complemented all of her male and female costars
and fit into all types of female characters. All of her achievements indicate her natural talent,
beauty, strength and hard work.* 4.