Isabella Rossellini: A journey from Hollywood to the heart of nature
A masterclass in subtlety
Isabella Rossellini puts down her fork, straightens her back, and demonstrates how she nailed a pivotal moment in her new movie, Conclave, a Vatican-set thriller. In the scene, Rossellini’s character, Sister Agnes, navigates a darkened hallway, trying to remain undetected, when she glimpses something mysterious unfolding a few feet in front of her.
“My heart has to beat much faster, so the camera picks it up,” Rossellini explains. “Your breath has to translate that. So I…” She inhales quietly, filling the room with a sense of tension without saying a word. It turns out great screen acting is all about waiting to exhale.
The quiet power of Sister Agnes
In Conclave, Sister Agnes tends to the fraternity of cardinals gathered to choose the next pope. She is often seen puttering around the perimeter of the male-dominated deliberations, but she’s rarely heard. That required Rossellini to convey reservoirs of suspicion with just a look or a gesture. Yet with only a few lines, she nearly steals the movie from heavyweights Ralph Fiennes, John Lithgow, and Stanley Tucci, who chatter and bluster and debate as they outmaneuver each other for control of the Catholic Church.
“It’s a very difficult role to nail,” says the film’s director. “Because you need that special extra something that not a lot of people have, and you need an actor who has confidence in their quietness. It would be easy to do too much. But Isabella is that rare person who can deliver a masterful performance with minimal expression.”
And make no mistake, Sister Agnes knows all. She may have been marginalized by a patriarchal system, but she is always a few steps ahead of the men who are grasping for the papal ring. “She hasn’t been squashed down,” says Rossellini. “She may have taken a vow of silence, but she’s not subservient. She’s very wise.”
A career resurgence
In films like Conclave and last spring’s La Chimera, where she played a Miss Havisham-like matriarch, the 72-year-old Rossellini has reestablished herself as an arresting character actress, playing the kind of meaty parts that dried up when she reached middle age. But even as she’s enjoying a career resurgence, her heart lies here at Mama Farm, a bucolic getaway that she purchased in 2013. It’s where she harvests honey, grows vegetables from heritage seeds, and oversees a predominantly female menagerie of goats, sheep, and chickens. “The males fight each other,” she explains.
Rossellini has also recently opened a low-key bed-and-breakfast on the property, which is where we’re sitting on a sun porch, eating chicken salad and drinking kombucha as she tells me that this is “the happiest” she’s been. But it’s a hard-won contentment — one that required a reinvention after she was shunted aside by Hollywood and the modeling world after she entered her 40s. That’s when Rossellini, who had been the face of Lancôme, was fired by the cosmetics company and unceremoniously informed that it needed a more youthful image. “Executives told me that advertising is about selling a dream, and when it comes to makeup, women dream of being young,” Rossellini remembers. “So a woman of 42, which I was when I was let go, cannot represent that dream.”
Reinventing herself
The movie business, where Rossellini had made a name for herself starring in films like Blue Velvet and Fearless, was equally inhospitable. Around the time that Rossellini lost the Lancôme contract, her agent of 20 years told her he had “lost interest” in guiding her career. After that, she struggled to find new representation, receiving the same blunt response from various agencies: “What do we do with an icon?” Rossellini repeats the last word, “icon,” her Italian accent becoming more pronounced as she picks at the corner of the cloth napkin on her lap. She’s all too aware of how an apparent compliment was just Hollywood-speak for “over the hill.” Then she shrugs. “I didn’t agree with it — it was an injustice, it was ageist — but I understood their rationale. In their mind, I was too old. There’s nothing I could do about that; I was only going to get older. So I said, ‘OK, time to find something else interesting and challenging.’”
Rossellini went back to school, finishing her undergraduate degree at NYU and then getting a master’s in animal behavior from Hunter College. She used that expertise to write, direct, and star in Green Porno, a series of arty, educational, and hilarious webisodes that debuted in 2008 and explored the mating rituals of everything from snails to sea lions over three seasons. Rossellini, who plays all the animals with a Buster Keaton physicality, donned elaborate costumes to demonstrate how a whale maintains an erection or anchovies enjoy ocean-based orgies.
“It’s my concession to commercialism,” Rossellini says of the focus on carnal matters. “If I made a video about teeth or mandible structure, nobody would watch it. But if you say ‘penis’ or ‘vagina,’ people start listening.”
She’s hoping to film another season of Green Porno, this one about the domestication of animals, but hasn’t figured out how to make it engaging. “I want it to be humorous,” she says. “But it’s easier to get people to laugh about sex.”
Embracing her European roots
Rossellini has a European ease with eroticism. On-screen, she appeared completely nude in Blue Velvet, wandering through a suburban neighborhood, badly bruised and desperate for help. To convey her character’s torment, Rossellini held her arms by her side like wounded wings, mirroring the famous war photo of the burned Vietnamese girl, naked and wailing in agony after a napalm attack. “Her gesture was so helpless,” Rossellini recalls.
When she worked on Death Becomes Her, playing a socialite with the secret to eternal youth, she used a body double for a scene in which her character emerges from a swimming pool naked save for some high heel shoes. Rossellini told the film’s director that she didn’t mind doing nudity, but she felt she wasn’t statuesque enough for that moment.
When it came time to shoot the sequence, she insisted on meeting the woman who would be supplying her backside. She wanted to deliver a message. “I went up to my double and I said, ‘I will stay here in my trailer. If you need me, just let me know and I’ll come out and be here with you.’ I was there like a mother saying, ‘I’m here to protect you.’”
A life of balance
When I get off the train in Patchogue, an unassuming town near the Fire Island ferry, where I’m meeting Rossellini on a cloudy July morning, she’s standing beside a weathered Lexus SUV.
Rossellini is dressed casually, wearing pants and a knit shirt, but she still looks regal and glamorous, commanding her section of the parking lot as she would a runway. It’s impossible not to be reminded of her mother, Ingrid Bergman, the screen icon who captivated Humphrey Bogart and bedeviled Cary Grant. And as she drives me through the town center and down a long, tree-lined driveway, the conversation moves seamlessly between her life as both a movie star and the daughter of film legends.# A journey through cinema, TV, and life: Isabella Rossellini’s multifaceted world
Isabella Rossellini, a name synonymous with elegance and talent, has lived a life that intertwines the golden threads of cinema, TV, and personal passions. Daughter of the neorealist auteur Roberto Rossellini and the iconic Ingrid Bergman, Isabella’s journey is a fascinating blend of legacy and individuality. From her roots in Rome to her current life as a farmer, her story is a testament to resilience and reinvention.
Rediscovering Rome through ‘Conclave’
Shooting the film Conclave in Rome was more than just a professional endeavor for Rossellini; it was a homecoming. The city, with its rich cinematic history, provided a backdrop that resonated deeply with her. Cinecittà, the legendary studio where both her parents worked, became a place of nostalgia and inspiration.
One evening, Rossellini played tour guide to her co-stars John Lithgow and Stanley Tucci, taking them to L’Eau Vive, a unique French restaurant run by Carmelite nuns. Tucci, who hosts a travel show about Italy’s cuisine, was enchanted by the experience, noting how the nuns sang hymns as they dined. This restaurant held a special place in Bergman’s heart, offering her a rare respite from the public eye.
The price of following one’s heart
Ingrid Bergman’s affair with Roberto Rossellini during the filming of Stromboli in 1950 was a scandal that rocked Hollywood. The backlash was severe, leading to her temporary exile from the industry. However, Bergman’s resilience saw her return to Hollywood, winning Oscars for Anastasia and Murder on the Orient Express. This tumultuous period left a lasting impression on Isabella, who reflects on her mother’s courage and the heavy price she paid for her choices.
Love and collaboration with cinematic giants
Isabella’s personal life has been intertwined with some of the most influential directors in cinema. Her marriage to Martin Scorsese during the making of Raging Bull and her relationship with David Lynch during the creation of Blue Velvet and Wild at Heart are notable chapters in her life. Despite the pain of their breakups, Rossellini maintains a deep affection for both men, cherishing the creative and personal bonds they share.
Laura Dern, who worked with Rossellini in Lynch’s films, admires her friend’s ability to move forward without bitterness. Rossellini’s resilience and positive outlook are qualities that have helped her navigate the ups and downs of her career and personal life.
A surprising return to Lancôme
In 2018, Lancôme, the beauty brand that had once dismissed Rossellini, invited her back. Initially skeptical, she was reassured by the company’s new perspective on beauty and aging. This return marked a significant shift in societal attitudes towards age, with Rossellini becoming a powerful voice in redefining beauty standards.
A renewed presence in Hollywood
Rossellini’s recent roles in films like Spaceman with Adam Sandler, Joy alongside Jennifer Lawrence, and Incredibles 2 as the Ambassador, highlight her enduring appeal. Despite the fickle nature of fame, she remains a beloved figure in the industry.
Legacy and the future of Mama Farm
Beyond her cinematic endeavors, Rossellini is deeply invested in her farm on Long Island. Mama Farm, which produces organic eggs, honey, wool, and vegetables, is a labor of love. She envisions it as a lasting legacy, providing revenue through a bed-and-breakfast and sustainable farming practices. However, she is mindful of the challenges that lie ahead in ensuring its continuity.
Reflecting on her parents’ legacies, Rossellini acknowledges the fleeting nature of fame. While she once resisted being defined by her lineage, she now feels a sense of loss as younger generations become less familiar with her parents’ contributions to cinema.
Embracing the present and planning for the future
Isabella Rossellini’s life is a rich tapestry of cinematic history, personal resilience, and a deep connection to nature. Her journey from the glitz of Hollywood to the tranquility of farm life is a testament to her ability to adapt and thrive. As she looks to the future, her focus is on ensuring that the values and passions she holds dear continue to flourish.
In a world where fame is often fleeting, Rossellini’s story is a reminder of the enduring power of authenticity and the importance of staying true to oneself. Whether on the silver screen or tending to her farm, she embodies a spirit of grace and determination that continues to inspire.
For more insights into Isabella Rossellini’s cinematic journey, check out the trailers for Conclave, Spaceman, Joy, and Incredibles 2.