Greta Garbo (born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson; 18 September 1905 – 15 April 1990) was a Swedish-American actress. Regarded as one of the greatest screen actresses, she was known for her melancholic, somber persona, her film portrayals of tragic characters, and her subtle and understated performances. For most of her career, she was the highest-paid actor or actress at MGM, making her for many years its "premier prestige star." Garbo was nominated three times for the Academy Award for Best Actress and in 1954, she was awarded an Academy Honorary Award "for her luminous and unforgettable screen performances". In 1999, the American Film Institute ranked Garbo fifth on its list of the greatest female stars of classic Hollywood cinema.