Who was Greta Garbo, the most popular Hollywood actress of the early 20th century, who disappeared into the abyss?

Little did Garbo know, the pre-America days would be her most treasured. In the summer of 1986, she recalled ‘one of the happiest days of my life was when I got my first real film pay…The first thing I did was to buy a pearl necklace and a ring for my mother.’

According to Garbo’s friend Frederick Sands, within months, bosses had begun ‘grooming the young actress … arranging to fix her teeth, making sure she lost weight, and giving her English lessons.’

Fame fast approached after…