<P> In 1925, Garbo, then 20 and unable to speak English, was brought over from Sweden at the request of Mayer . Both Garbo and Stiller arrived in New York in July 1925 after a 10 - day trip on the SS Drottningholm . But they remained in New York for more than six months without any word from MGM . They decided to travel to Los Angeles on their own, but another five weeks passed with no contact from the studio . On the verge of returning to Sweden, she wrote to her boyfriend back home: "You're quite right when you think I don't feel at home here...Oh you lovely little Sweden, I promise that when I return to you my sad face will smile as never before ." </P> <P> A Swedish friend in Los Angeles helped out by contacting MGM producer Irving Thalberg, who agreed to give Garbo a screen test . According to author Frederick Sands, "the result of the test was electrifying . Thalberg was impressed and began grooming the young actress the following day, arranging to fix her teeth, making sure she lost weight, and giving her English lessons ." </P> <P> During her rise to stardom, film historian Mark Vieira notes, "Thalberg decreed that henceforth Garbo would play a young but worldly wise woman ..." However, according to Thalberg's actress wife, Norma Shearer, Garbo did not necessarily agree with his ideas: </P> <P> Miss Garbo at first didn't like playing the exotic, the sophisticated, the woman of the world . She used to complain, "Mr. Thalberg, I am just a young gur - rl!" Irving tossed it off with a laugh . With those elegant pictures he was creating the Garbo image . </P>

Who plays shock g in all eyes on me