The Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman was one of America’s most beloved and successful performers. She was drawn to acting at a young age and was delighted to be invited to Hollywood in 1938 for the American remake of Intermezzo. With her flawless natural beauty and talent for acting, she was an instant success.
After making several memorable movies, such as Casablanca and Gaslight, Bergman caused an international scandal by leaving her husband and daughter for an affair with Italian director Roberto Rossellini. She was effectively ousted from American soil and choose to live in Europe for several years. When she divorced Rossellini in 1957, she slowly made her way back to Hollywood. Again, she had to leave her children behind.
Ingrid Bergman was passionate enough about life to attempt to have it all—family, career, and independence—at a time when women were expected to stay at home and raise children. When she died of breast cancer at age 67, Bergman indicated she had no regrets, even if she did make mistakes.
