Before Isabella Rossellini was born, a fan letter brought her famous parents together. Swedish actress Ingrid Bergman wrote to filmmaker Roberto Rossellini, expressing her desire to work with him.
Contrary to the rumors that this letter was romantic in nature, with many believing she ended it with “ti amo” (I love you), Isabella later debunked the myth.
“In the mythology of the press, it was seen as a love letter, but it really wasn’t,” she told BAM. “My mother knew she was a famous actress, so she tried to write something playful and funny.”
Bergman and Roberto eventually worked together on the 1950 film Stromboli, and their collaboration quickly turned into an affair. Both were married at the time, and the scandal tarnished their reputations. Unlike many Hollywood scandals, this one had lasting consequences for Bergman, who faced seven years of alienation from the United States.
As reported by The Guardian, Bergman’s first request for a divorce from her husband, Petter Lindstrom, was denied. It wasn’t until after she and Roberto had their first child, named after his father, that her divorce was finalized in Mexico.
In 1952, Bergman and Roberto welcomed twins, Isabella and Ingrid Rossellini. While Ingrid chose a career in education, specializing in Italian literature and film, Isabella embraced the limelight, following in her parents’ footsteps. Keep reading to learn more about Isabella Rossellini’s stunning transformation.
#1. Isabella Rossellini grew up in a large family
Isabella Rossellini grew up in a unique family situation, which she talked about during a 1983 interview on Late Night with David Letterman. She explained that she came from a big family, saying, “We were many kids.”
She also shared a story about how her brother threw a phone at her, chipping her tooth. Her father, Roberto Rossellini, had other wives and children besides her mother, so there were seven kids in total.
As a child, Isabella often moved between France, where her mother lived, Italy, her father’s home, and Sweden. This made her trilingual, though she eventually forgot most of her Swedish. Isabella and her twin sister, Ingrid, shared a room and dressed alike until they were 12, something she also mentioned on Late Night with Conan O’Brien.
Despite her parents’ fame, Isabella revealed that they weren’t rich. She told The New York Times, “People think fame brings money, but it doesn’t.” Her father was known for making experimental films, which were influential but didn’t make a lot of money.
Her parents, Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini, were only together for six years after the twins were born, and their relationship ended in a difficult custody battle.
#2. She was diagnosed with scoliosis in her early teens
When Isabella Rossellini was 12 years old, she was diagnosed with scoliosis, a condition that causes the spine to curve. She had to undergo surgery and spent two years recovering. During that time, her mother, Ingrid Bergman, put her career on hold to care for her.
“My mother, who had a full career, stopped working for two years to be with me every day while I was ill,” Rossellini shared with People.
Many years later, in her sixties, Rossellini had another spinal surgery. After her mother’s passing, she missed the care and dedication her mother had shown during her first recovery.
Another painful chapter in Rossellini’s teenage years was experiencing sexual assault. For years, she has kept the abuser’s identity a secret, only revealing that they were close in age.
In an interview with Vulture, she said, “I don’t know what happened to him. He might be married. He might have children. I am a superstar in Italy; if I said who did this, I would destroy him.”
She also pointed out that in Italian culture, date rape is often misunderstood due to confusion around consent.
#3. Isabella Rossellini moved to New York at 19
When Isabella Rossellini was in her late teens, her mother sent her to Finch College in New York because she wasn’t fluent in English at the time. Although she had learned some of the language while in Sweden, her skills weren’t strong enough.
Rossellini knew that without mastering English, her future opportunities would be limited. “When I grew up, in the ’50s, ’60s, if you knew English, the doors would open everywhere,” she told Interview.
After taking English courses, a big opportunity came her way. She landed a three-year job as a translator for Italian sports journalist Gianni Minà, who had a television show but didn’t speak English.
During this time, Rossellini translated interviews and even met major stars like boxing legend Muhammad Ali.
“It was the best job you could do. I learned problem-solving, and research,” Rossellini told Vulture.
She also shared, “I would do skits with a comedian named Renzo Arbore, who was then offered his own show. So I went to work with him, doing little funny stories from America.”
#4. She met and tied the knot with Martin Scorsese
While working with Gianni Minà, Isabella Rossellini crossed paths with her first husband, filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Their romance began unexpectedly, as Rossellini shared with Vulture.
She admitted she hadn’t seen Scorsese’s 1978 documentary The Last Waltz before interviewing him, although she was supposed to.
After the interview, Scorsese invited her to watch it. The following year, they tied the knot, with Scorsese’s frequent collaborator, Robert De Niro, attending the wedding.
Reflecting on her relationship with Scorsese, Rossellini later revealed that much of their bond stemmed from her background.
“When I married Martin Scorsese, I was 27 and didn’t think there was much interesting about me,” she told the Irish Independent.
“But he was fascinated by my father. We used to visit Italy together. He was thirsty for understanding of the place and of Italian-American culture. His films are all about that.”
Their marriage ended in 1982 due to infidelity. That same year, Rossellini faced another loss when her mother, Ingrid Bergman, passed away from breast cancer at 67. Scorsese later found long-term happiness with his wife, Helen Morris.
#5. She started modeling and became the face of Lancôme
Isabella Rossellini’s journey into modeling happened by chance. A casual photoshoot with renowned photographer Bruce Weber unexpectedly landed her on the cover of Vogue, and from there, she graced the magazine numerous times.
Even though she was married at the time, Rossellini chose not to wear her wedding ring during shoots. “Models weren’t supposed to have an identity beyond the photograph,” she explained to Vulture. “You were the element for people to complete their fantasy of an ideal woman.”
Her Vogue appearance opened the door to a long-lasting partnership with the cosmetics giant Lancôme, which brought her significant financial success. However, it came with the price of losing her own public voice.
As she told Evan Smith on Overheard, unlike her mother, Ingrid Bergman, she kept a close watch on her finances, influenced by the feminist movement.
In the mid-1990s, Lancôme dropped Rossellini because she was aging. It wasn’t until more than two decades later that the brand reconsidered. Reflecting on her return, Rossellini shared with The Guardian in 2020:
“I’m not there now to represent beauty; I’m there to represent a different dream. It may be defined as joyfulness; life goes on and there are many chapters. I think that’s why they keep me.”
#6. Isabella Rossellini married Jon Wiedemann and had a daughter, Elettra Wiedemann
Just as photographer Bruce Weber played a key role in launching Isabella Rossellini’s modeling career, he was also involved in introducing her to her second husband, Jonathan Wiedemann.
Their daughter, Elettra Wiedemann, revealed to the Daily Mail, “I owe my existence to Bruce Weber and Calvin Klein. Bruce introduced my parents to each other during a Calvin Klein shoot. My mother had just lost her mother and realized she wanted a family — so my parents didn’t waste time conceiving me.”
Elettra followed in her mother’s footsteps but added her own twist. She became a model, working with brands like Hoss Intropia, and even appeared in Isabella’s 2011 documentary Animals Distract Me as well as in the music video for “Agent Provocateur: Control Yourself,” directed by John Cameron Mitchell.
According to her LinkedIn profile, Elettra holds a Master’s degree in biomedicine from The London School of Economics and Political Science. As of 2024, she serves as the executive director of Isabella’s Mama Farm.
Though proud of her heritage, Elettra chooses not to use her famous family name, as she shared with Frankfurter Allgemeine. Ten years after Elettra was born, Isabella adopted a son, Roberto, who, like his sister, is now all grown up and shares a name with their grandfather.
#7. She landed her ‘controversial’ breakout role in Blue Velvet
In 1986, Isabella Rossellini took on the role of Dorothy Vallens in Blue Velvet, directed by David Lynch. The part was originally intended for British actress Helen Mirren, but she turned it down.
In the film, Rossellini portrays a nightclub singer caught in a dangerous situation after her family is kidnapped, leading to a tumultuous romance. While the movie gained critical acclaim, its graphic content sparked mixed reactions from the public, thrusting Rossellini into the spotlight in a controversial way.
Renowned film critic Roger Ebert had concerns about how the film’s explicit scenes affected the actors, particularly Rossellini. In a conversation with Lynch, Ebert mentioned that some of the movie’s more intense elements were inspired by Lynch’s childhood.
Ebert felt that these scenes may have harmed the actors emotionally, writing, “The movie is powerful, challenging and made with great skill, and yet it made me feel pity for the actors who worked in it and anger at the director for taking liberties with them.”
Rossellini later responded to Ebert’s comments in an interview with Backstage, saying, “It was very controversial. I remember not reading the reviews at the time, but being told by several people that Roger Ebert felt very protective of me and felt I had been ‘used.’ It was a surprise! I am an adult — no one uses me.”
The controversy surrounding Blue Velvet even led to Rossellini parting ways with her agent, who decided to end their professional relationship.
#8. Isabella Rossellini and David Lynch were together for six years
Isabella Rossellini and David Lynch first met after she finished her debut role in the U.S. as Darya Greenwood in the Taylor Hackford film White Nights. They went on to work together on Blue Velvet and soon began dating, which marked the end of Rossellini’s marriage to Jonathan Wiedemann.
Unfortunately, their relationship wasn’t meant to last. According to Rossellini, there were no signs of trouble. “All my instincts had told me that we were a happy couple,” she shared with Die Zeit, a German publication.
So, she was shocked when Lynch suddenly left after five years together. Until then, she had never experienced such intense heartbreak and decided to seek professional help.
“I talked to other women who had the same thing happen to them. And I did therapy,” Rossellini explained to Die Zeit. She also leaned on time to heal her emotional pain. “I had already had this experience when my parents died — that time heals,” she added.
For his part, Lynch expressed regret about the way he ended things. Speaking to Vulture, he admitted, “I might have wanted to shut the door and not leave a squeak of light coming through… But I feel bad about cutting it off that way.”
#9. Isabella Rossellini bought a farm
In 2013, Isabella Rossellini bought her dream farm in Brookhaven, located on Long Island’s South Shore in New York. When she first saw the place, it reminded her of home, despite its need for major renovations. “I noticed this very beautiful, big red barn. It reminded me straight away of Sweden,” Rossellini shared with Vogue.
“As soon as I saw it, I loved it.” With the help of architect Pietro Cicognani, she transformed the old property into a beautiful barn-style home, complete with a pool, gym, and farm animals.
Rossellini named the property Mama Farm, explaining to Charlie Rose, “A lot of people call it Isabella’s Farm, and I said it cannot be called Isabella Farm because I’m gonna die.”
She said the name Mama Farm honors the mothers and children who visit to learn about plants, animals, and farming. Rossellini even opened her home to the public, offering an educational space for visitors.
According to the farm’s website, staying at Mama Farm costs $350 per night as of now. In April 2024, Rossellini launched the Mama Farm Foundation. She shared on Instagram that they were selling ponchos made from the wool of their sheep, helping the farm become financially sustainable.
#10. The actor became a grandmother
In January 2018, Isabella Rossellini’s daughter, Elettra Wiedemann, became a mother. In a sweet Instagram post, Wiedemann announced the birth of her son, Ronin Hendrick Lane, sharing that he already had several nicknames.
Reflecting on her own experience of becoming a grandmother, Rossellini wrote in an Instagram post on Ronin’s third birthday, “Here [sic] the photo of our first encounter after a long night of my daughter’s labor. I even fainted and I didn’t give birth, I am the nonna, but was overwhelmed with emotions.”
In the fall of 2018, Ronin made his modeling debut when three generations—Rossellini, Wiedemann, and Ronin—walked the Dolce & Gabbana runway together.
Wiedemann and her longtime partner, actor Caleb Lane, who is known for his role in Pretty Little Liars, welcomed more joy in June 2021 with the birth of their second child, Viggo River Lane.
Being a grandmother is something Rossellini cherishes. In May 2024, she posted a photo of herself holding a baby’s hand with the caption, “I love being a grandmother (a nonna).”
#11. Isabella Rossellini returned to school
Isabella Rossellini’s love for animals began at a young age. In a heartfelt Instagram post, she recalled how, during Easter celebrations, a lamb would often be brought in.
“I think it was killed for our meals … of course, I never realized that and just kissed it, and kissed it, as much as I could,” Rossellini shared. The realization was heartbreaking, but her passion for animals only grew stronger as she got older.
In the late 2000s, she narrated and illustrated Green Porno, an educational series exploring animal mating habits. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she continued her animal-related work with an online show called Sex and Consequences.
The year before, Rossellini proudly graduated from Hunter College with a Master’s degree in Animal Behavior and Conservation.
“Finally got my Master’s degree!” she wrote on Instagram. “The ceremony was most touching and inspiring. Hillary Clinton delivered the commencement speech!!!! I am overwhelmed with emotion and gratitude.”
Rossellini returned to school as acting and modeling opportunities began to dwindle. Surrounded by animals on her farm, she shared some of the challenges.
In a 2020 interview with DW, she said, “I have a little circus dog that I toured with in a show called Link Link Circus … she is the most obedient. The hardest ones are the sheep. Because they are big animals, and the other day they just broke into my house.”
#12. She appeared in the Alice Rohrwacher-directed La Chimera
It’s clear that Isabella Rossellini always had her sights set on acting. As a young girl, she spent a lot of time on film sets with her director father, learning by observing. Now in her early seventies, she hasn’t retired just yet.
In 2023, she appeared in the film La Chimera, an archeological tale that premiered in the U.S. in March 2024. Starring Josh O’Connor, Carol Duarte, and Vincenzo Nemolato, the film received several award nominations and won Best Cinematography and Best Ensemble Cast Performance at the Chicago International Film Festival.
Despite its modest box office performance, earning only $44,511 in its opening weekend in the U.S. and Canada, La Chimera brought renewed hope to Rossellini’s acting career.
In April 2024, she was nominated for Best Supporting Actress at the David di Donatello Awards, a recognition that reassured her that her career was still thriving. “It’s not over, the door is still open! What joy it is to work even if I am old!” Rossellini celebrated on Instagram.
