Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who was widely considered to be one of the greatest female movie stars of all time She was active in both European and American cinema. Bergman won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA Award and a Tony Award. Her performances in movies such as Casablanca, Gaslight, and Anastasia earned her international acclaim for her powerful, yet deeply emotional portrayals of characters.
Bergman's first success came in the movie Intermezzo: A Love Story (1939). The film was set in Sweden and Bergman played a young concert pianist who falls in love with an older man. Her portrayal of the romantic and troubled relationship between the two earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Bergman's performance in Casablanca (1942) is widely considered to be one of her best. She played Ilsa Lund, a former lover of Humphrey Bogart's character, Rick Blaine. As the story unfolds, Ilsa is torn between her loyalty to her husband and her love for Rick. Bergman's portrayal of the tortured, yet strong-willed woman was hailed by critics and earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress.
Gaslight (1944) was another critical and commercial success for Bergman. In the film, she played Paula the wife of Gregory Anton, who gradually begins to drive her to the brink of insanity. Bergman's nuanced and masterful performance won her the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1945.
Anastasia (1956) was a historical drama about the life of Anastasia Romanov, the last grand duchess of Russia. In the film, Bergman played the role of Anna Anderson, a woman who claims to be the real Anastasia. Her powerful and emotional performance earned her the Academy Award for Best Actress.
Bergman's final major role was in Autumn Sonata (1978). In the film, she plays Charlotte, a famous pianist who reunites with her estranged daughter Eva, played by Liv Ullmann. The film was hailed as a masterpiece, and Bergman became the first actor to receive an Oscar nomination for a foreign language performance.
These five examples of Ingrid Bergman's work showcase her extraordinary acting talent, and why she is considered one of the most influential actresses in the history of film.