20 Most Influential Actors Of All Time

Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who began her career unable to speak English. She had her Hollywood debut starring in the 1939 classic Intermezzo: A Love Story, an English-language remake of the original Swedish picture. Her early career was characterised by her worry that American audiences wouldn't accept her, and she was worried that Hollywood would require her to change to achieve her goals.

All of this quickly proved to be a moot point, as Intermezzo made her a big star. After that, she starred in Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, For whom the Bell Tolls, Gaslight and Notorious. It her role in Casablanca, though, which will forever be best remembered. Her role, like many of her others, was critically lauded, and because of it she remained popular and beloved for the rest of her life.

Outside of her often mesmerising roles, Bergman can best summed up as an actress who's ambition and passion drove her into the arms of the adoring public, and because of both her public persona and her many great characters, she was massively respected in the Hollywood community. Her modesty was often a point of focus, too, as she always dismissed her career as what she wanted to do rather than a money-making scheme.

Her sensitive portrayals as some of cinema's most iconic female characters will always be remembered, but her true influence comes from her kind, calm and hard-working nature. She won three Academy Awards over her life, and a legion of respect.