Mercedes de Acosta - Relationship With Greta Garbo

Relationship With Greta Garbo

De Acosta's best-known relationship was with Greta Garbo. In 1931, they were introduced by Garbo's friend, author Salka Viertel, and quickly became involved. Their relationship was erratic and volatile with Garbo always in control. The two were very close sporadically and then apart for lengthy periods when Garbo, annoyed by Mercedes' obsession, coupled with her own neuroses, ignored her. It is thought that de Acosta remained in love with Garbo for the rest of her life but it is doubtful that Garbo shared these feelings. In any case, they remained friends for thirty years during which time Garbo wrote de Acosta 181 letters, cards, and telegrams.

Although it has been argued that no proof of a romance between them exists, their involvement is discussed by all of Garbo's and de Acosta's recent biographers. Because she was destitute in 1959, de Acosta sold her papers to the Rosenbach Museum & Library in Philadelphia and claims to have reluctantly included the love letters she received from Garbo. "I would not have had the heart or courage to have burned these letters", she wrote William McCarthy, curator of the museum. "I mean, of course, Eva, Greta's and Marlene's who were lovers.... I only hope...they will be respected and protected from the eyes of vulgar people. Per de Acosta's request, Garbo's letters were made available to the public in 2000, ten years after Garbo's death, and did not include romantic letters. Garbo's family, which controls her estate, has allowed only 87 of the letters, cards, and telegrams to be released.