Ingrid Bergman (29 August 1915 – 29 August 1982) was a multilingual, Academy Award-winning actress born in Stockholm, conversant in Swedish, German, English, Italian, and French. She had been preparing for an acting career all her life. After her mother Frieda died when she was three years old, she was raised by her father Justus Samuel Bergman, a professional photographer who encouraged her to pose and act in front of the camera. As a young woman, she was shy, taller than the average women of her generation, and somewhat overweight. Acting allowed her to transcend these constraints, enabling her to transform herself into a character. She first appeared as an uncredited extra in the film Landskamp (1932), and was accepted into the Royal Dramatic Theatre of Stockholm as a scholarship student in 1933.

She appeared in a dozen films in Sweden, before being offered work in the American film industry. The movie that both she and historians cite as launching her international career was Intermezzo (1936), in which she shared the lead opposite Gösta Ekman. It brought her to the attention of producer David O. Selznick, who purchased the rights to the story and cast her as the female lead in the American version, Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939), with British actor Leslie Howard taking over the male lead. Bergman signed a three-picture contract with the German production company UFA GmbH, intending to launch her career in German films. In the end, she only acted in the comedy The Four Companions (Die vier Gesellen) (1938), directed by Carl Froelich. At the time of filming, she was pregnant with daughter Pia Lindström by her first husband, physician Petter Lindström, and performed with her abdomen bound. Following her daughter's birth, she made the Swedish film June Night (1940), and three American films: Adam Had Four Sons (1941), Rage in Heaven (1941), and Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1942).

Bergman made over 40 films in her career, many of them for American producers and directors. In the early stages of making the World War II romantic drama Casablanca (1942), she and her co-stars Humphrey Bogart and Paul Henreid thought it would be an insignificant film, and all three wanted out of their commitments to the production. The script was a work in progress, with director Michael Curtiz in frequent conflict with the writers and with producer Hal B. Wallis. The actors and Curtiz were crafting the characters and story line as they went along. After its release, the film struck a chord with wartime audiences. It was nominated for eight Academy Awards, winning in the categories of Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Screenplay. For decades afterwards, there were special screenings and retrospectives of the film, often with Bergman as a guest speaker. She had attended so many events for the film, being asked the same questions over and over, that she once remarked, "When I die, I hope they won't show it again".

Alfred Hitchcock directed her in three films: Spellbound (1945), Notorious (1946), and Under Capricorn (1949). Impressed by Italian director Roberto Rossellini's films Rome, Open City (1945) and Paisà (1946), she wrote to him offering her services as an actress. Together, they would make Stromboli (1950), Europa 51 (1951), Siamo donne (1953), Journey to Italy (1954), and Joan of Arc at the Stake (1954). Her off-screen relationship with Rossellini ended her marriage to Lindström, and produced out-of-wedlock son Renato Roberto Ranaldo Giusto Giuseppe ("Robin") Rossellini. She and Lindström divorced in 1950, and she married Rossellini. After the 1952 births of their twin daughters Isotta Ingrid and Isabella, she and Rossellini divorced in 1957. Hitchcock had remained her life-long friend, and told her, "He ruined your career".

Bergman married for a final time in 1958, to Swedish film producer Lars Schmidt. He produced her works of 24 Hours in a Woman's Life (1960-TV), The Human Voice (1960-TV), and Hedda Gabler (1962-Stage play; 1963-TV). They divorced in 1975.

Ingrid Bergman was the recipient of numerous global nominations and awards for her work, including three Academy Awards. In the category of Best Actress, she won for Gaslight (1944) and Anastasia (1956). For Murder on the Orient Express (1974), she was named Best Supporting Actress. She appeared multiple times on the American stage. In the pre-television era, she was a prolific guest on radio programs. Bergman received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on 8 February 1960.

A Woman Called Golda on American television earned her the 1982 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie. When asked to play Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, Bergman doubted that the audience would accept her – a tall Swedish Protestant – in the part, but producer Gene Corman and director Alan Gibson believed that on screen, she generated the same feeling of public trust as did Meir. She was in the last stages of her battle with breast cancer when shooting commenced, making her un-insurable for the production, but all concerned believed the project was worth the risk. The film premiered on American television on 26 April 1982. Four months later, Bergman died on her birthday. Her daughter Pia accepted the Emmy award on her behalf.

Films

+ Feature length film credits of Ingrid BergmanTitleYearRoleNotes International Match1932Girl waiting in lineUncreditedTagning "På solsidan"1935Film short Elsa EdlundSwedish title: MunkbrogrevenAB Svensk FilmindustriSwedenhielmsAstrid, Bo Swedenhielms fästmö AB Svensk FilmindustriOcean Breakers Karin Ingman Bränningar Walpurgis Night Lena Bergström ValborgsmässoaftonOn the Sunny Side 1936Eva Bergh, bankkassörskaAB Wivefilm På solsidanIntermezzoAnita HoffmanAB Svensk FilmindustriDollar1938Julia Balzar, skådespelerskaAB Svensk Filmindustri Marianne KrugeDie Vier Gesellen Anna Holm, aka Anna PaulssonEn kvinnas ansikteAB Svensk Filmindustri Only One Night 1939 Eva Beckman En enda natt Intermezzo: A Love Story Anita Hoffman Selznick International PicturesJune Night 1940Kerstin Norbäcaka Sara Nordanå JuninattenAB Svensk FilmindustriAdam Had Four Sons 1941Emilie GallatinColumbia PicturesRage in Heaven Stella BergenMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde Ivy PetersonMGMCasablanca1942 Ilsa LundWarner Bros.For Whom the Bell Tolls1943 MaríaParamount PicturesNomination - Academy Award for Best ActressPreserved at the UCLA Film & Television ArchiveSwedes in America Herself(short subject)United FilmsGaslight1944Paula Alquist AntonMGM Academy Award for Best Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – DramaSpellbound 1945Dr. Constance PetersenSelznick International Pictures New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Preserved at the UCLA Film & Television Archive Saratoga TrunkClio DulaineWarner Bros.Sister Mary BenedictRKO Pictures Nomination - Academy Award for Best Actress New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama1946HerselfNational Conference for Community and JusticeNotoriousAlicia HubermanRKO PicturesArch of Triumph 1948Joan MadouEnterprise Productions, Inc.Joan of ArcJoan [D'Arc]Sierra PicturesPreserved at the UCLA Film & Television ArchiveNomination - Academy Award for Best ActressUnder Capricorn1949 Lady Henrietta FluskyWarner Bros.Stromboli 1950Karin BjiorsenRKO PicturesEuropa 511952 Irene GirardVolpi Cup for Best Actress aka "Greatest Love"Roberto Rossellini ProductionsWe, the Womenaka Siamo donne1953Herself(segment: "Ingrid Bergman")Alfredo Guarini ProductionsJourney to Italy1954Katherine Joyce Viaggio in ItaliaRoberto Rossellini ProductionsFearIrene Wagner Minerva-Ariston-AnieneJoan of Arc at the StakeGiovanna d'Arco (Joan of Arc)Roberto Rossellini Productions Elena and Her Men 1956 Elena et les hommesPrincess Elena SokorowskaFranco London Films SALes Films GibéElectra Compania CinematographiaAnastasia Anna Koreff / Anastasia Academy Award for Best Actress Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama 20th Century FoxIndiscreet1958Anna KalmanWarner Bros. Nomination - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or Musical Gladys AylwardNomination - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role National Board of Review Award for Best Actress 20th Century FoxGoodbye Again 1961Paula TessierUnited ArtistsAuguste / Kolka, My Friend Cameo Les Films MarceauThe Visit 1964Karla Zachanassian20th Century FoxGerda MillettMGM Stimulantia1967Mathilde Hartman(Segment: "The Necklace")Omnia Films Cactus Flower 1969Stephanie DickinsonColumbia Pictures Nomination - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Comedy or MusicalHenri Langlois1970 Herself(documentary)Hershon Films Libby Meredith Columbia Pictures From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler1973Mrs. FrankweilerWestfall Productions Murder on the Orient Express1974Greta Ohlsson Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressBAFTA Award for Best Supporting ActressG. W. Films Ltd.A Matter of Time 1976Countess Lucretia SanzianiAmerican International PicturesAutumn Sonata1978Charlotte AndergastNew World PicturesNomination - Academy Award for Best Actress Nomination - Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama Nomination - National Board of Review Award for Best Actress National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actress

Box Office Ranking

1944 - 24th (US) 1945 - 13th (US) 1946 - 2nd (US), 7th (UK) 1947 - 3rd (US), 9th (UK) 1948 - 10th (US) 1957 - 24th (US) 1958 - 17th (US) 1959 - 23rd (US)

Television

+ Television credits of Ingrid BergmanTitleYearRoleNotes The Turn of the Screw1959GovernessEmmy AwardNBC-TV24 Hours in a Woman's Life 1960Clare LesterCBS-TVHedda Gabler 1963Hedda Gabler1967A WomanABC-TV American Film Institute Salute to Alfred Hitchcock 1979HerselfCBS-TV 1982 Golda Meir Emmy AwardParamount Television

Theatre

+ Theatre credits of Ingrid BergmanTitleYearRoleTheatre/Notes Liliom 1940Julie44th Street TheatreNew York City, New York Anna Christie1941Anna ChristieLobero TheatreSan Diego, CaliforniaJoan of Lorraine 1946Joan of Arc / Mary GreyAlvin TheaterNew York City. NYJoan of Arc at the Stake1953Joan of ArcSan Carlo Opera HouseNaples, Italy1954Stoll TheatreLondon, United KingdomTea and Sympathy 1956Laura ReynoldsThéâtre de ParisParis, FranceHedda Gabler1962 Hedda GablerThéâtre Montparnasse Gaston BatyParis, FranceA Month in the Country1965 Natalia PetrovnaYvonne Arnaud TheatreGuildford, United KingdomCambridge TheatreLondon, United KingdomMore Stately Mansions 1967Deborah HarfordBroadhurst TheatreNew York CityAhmanson TheatreLos Angeles Captain Brassbound's Conversion1971Lady Cecily WaynfleteCambridge TheatreLondon, United Kingdom1972Opera House, Kennedy CenterWashington, D.C. The Constant Wife 1973–1975Constance MiddletonAlbery TheatreLondon, United KingdomShubert TheatreNew York, NY Waters of the Moon1977–1978 Helen LancasterFestival TheatreChichester, United KingdomHaymarket TheatreLondon, United Kingdom

Radio