who said i want to be alone

The famous quote "I want to be alone" is closely associated with the legendary actress Greta Garbo. She said this line in the 1932 film Grand Hotel, where she played a Russian ballerina expressing her longing for solitude. However, Greta Garbo later clarified that she never actually said "I want to be alone" but rather "I want to be let alone," emphasizing the difference between the two phrases. This distinction was noted by Garbo in a 1955 interview, highlighting her desire for privacy rather than isolation. The quote has since become iconic and culturally referenced in various contexts.