In 1952, after a decade-long absence from the screen, Garbo returned to make her last film, Two-Faced Woman. She played a woman who pretends to be her own twin sister in order to win back her estranged husband. The film was a box office bomb and was savaged by critics. Garbo was so distraught by the negative reaction that she retired from acting for good.
For the next few decades, Garbo lived as a virtual recluse in her New York City apartment. She rarely left home and never gave interviews. In 1981, she was awarded an honorary Oscar in recognition of her unforgettable screen performances. She did not attend the ceremony and sent a thank you note instead.
Garbo died of natural causes in 1990 at the age of 84. Her death made headlines around the world and brought renewed interest in her life and work.