So Many Christs

Renowned French novelist and Nobel Prize winner, Francois Mauriac, once interviewed the celebrated Swedish-born actress, Greta Garbo. Of Miss Garbo it has been written, “Her profile, honey-colored hair, large blue eyes, and beautiful but mysterious smile, made her an ideal heroine.” In 1941, at the peak of her success and still a young woman, she gave up her acting career without explanation, although she had often expressed a dislike for the publicity. Her legendary line, “I want to be alone,” is often mimicked by impersonators, using a heavy Scandinavian accent. In the interview with Mauriac, Miss Garbo tried to explain her desire to hide from public view. “Imagine,” she said, “how often I have sat way in the back of some theater-whether in New York, Chicago, Vienna, Berlin or Paris-and in the hazy half-light watched the enormous crowd fascinated by my face … My face-the terrible thing is, all those eyes are desiring a face that isn’t mine, is not my real face. Mine is…