Happy Birthday Ingrid Bergman!

Today marks the 99th birthday for our beloved Ingrid Bergman! It also is the 32nd anniversary of her death. That's right, if this is your first time reading one of my birthday posts, fun fact: Ingrid Bergman died on her 67th birthday.

Ingrid's life was one filled with as much drama as the parts she played on the screen. Her mother died when she was 3, her father died when she was 12 and her aunt died in Ingrid's arms 6 months following. She worked hard for her dreams. She studied theater, piano and singing and acting was always her calling. She was a beauty who knew how to work the system.

The drama didn't end there. She had a baby when she was 23 and was married to a dentist who followed her to Hollywood when her career took off and made her a star. She had affairs with powerful men, including Victor Fleming (75 years ago... You know, the guy who directed "The Wizard of Oz" and "Gone with the Wind" in the same year), Robert Capa (the guy who took those famous WWII Normandy photos and later died because he stepped on a land mine) and later she would end her marriage with Peter Lindstrom by fleeing the states for Italy with Roberto Rossellini.

She was declared "Persona Non Grata" on the US Senate floor and wouldn't return to the States until after a decade.

Her work spoke for itself and for her. It lives on, thankfully, and though her full-circle time on this earth expired, her films immortalized those beautiful moments on screen.

Personally, I feel Ingrid Bergman has been a humanized star. She is someone I've watched time and again bring life to the screen and she has always inspired me to follow my ambitions and dreams.

Today, I celebrate the life and work of Ingrid Bergman, though I carry her in my head and heart everyday to utilize part of her path to guide my own.

The world made a better place thanks to Ingrid's work, especially the cinematic world.

Happy Birthday, Ingrid!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY INGRID! :)

It's the big day. A bittersweet celebration for all of us Ingrid Bergman fans.

Today marks the 94th anniversary of the birth of Ingrid Bergman as well as the 27th anniversary of her death.

In case you weren't aware, Ingrid Bergman died on her 67th birthday (not assuming you can't do math or decipher the previous statement, it's merely a lead in. lol).

Ingrid Freidel Bergman was born in Stockholm, Sweden on August 29th, 1915 to Justus and Freidel Bergman. Her mother died when she was 3 and her father died when she was 12. Though Ingrid faced personal troubles most of her life, she prospered into the --insert heavy opinion-- BEST actress of all time.

Ingrid loved acting more than anything. She loved the work, the feeling, the escape, the beauty, the families and every other aspect. She devoted her life to the art. This, of course, wasn't easy for many to understand and left many by the way side.

Ingrid's daughter, Pia, once described her mother as a "train on train tracks" claiming that once Ingrid made up her mind to do something, get on board or get out of the way.

I love this about Ingrid. No apologies. Just hard work.

Ingrid made over 50 films during her time on this earth. I often think of her as my guardian angel, or at least my guide through life. Whenever I can't figure something out I say "W.W.I.D.?" "What would Ingrid do?"

Even if it's outlandish or ridiculous, it can at least make me laugh. Plus, I think Ingrid would have understood this mentality. She looked to Joan of Arc in the same way (and probably would have blogged about it if technology had warranted such a task).

She is an eternal icon. Her face is captured for eternity in film, photographs and words. We know her voice and her looks, long after she has left us.

I am glad to have known Ingrid, if only through books, film and television. I am grateful for the communities of people she has guided me to (chances are, that's you I'm referring to, since you're reading my blog, lol.). I wish I had known her. Even if she were not the Ingrid I have built in my head, I'd still want it. Her ability to be an iconic star and yet so human is what draws me to her. Not to mention her spirit and insanely amazing acting ability.

Ingrid lived many ups and downs. In her films, her career and her life. This is what we celebrate here @ Ingrid Bergman Life and Films and I thank you all for your support.

It is amazing that she lived a full circled life. She entered and exited like a true actress; with grace, dignity and a performance no one will ever forget.