When people remember Isabella Rossellini, they often picture her as the iconic Lancôme model or the haunting Dorothy Vallens in Blue Velvet. But her life has taken a very different turn – today, the Italian-American actress spends her days on a farm in New York, raising heritage chickens and studying animal behavior.
Full Name: Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini ·
Born: 18 June 1952 ·
Birthplace: Rome, Italy ·
Occupations: Actress, model, filmmaker, farmer ·
Children: Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann ·
Known For: Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her, Lancôme campaigns
Quick snapshot
- Born 18 June 1952 to Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Face of Lancôme for 14 years starting 1982 (Wikipedia (biographical reference))
- Won Independent Spirit Award for Blue Velvet (IMDb (industry profile))
- Founded Mama Farm in 2013 (Mama Farm (official site))
- Exact reason for breakup with David Lynch (speculated creative differences) (Who’s Dated Who (celebrity relationship database))
- Whether her relationship with Gary Oldman overlapped with his marriage to Demi Moore (Who’s Dated Who (celebrity relationship database))
- Timeline of her studies at Hunter College (attended a lecture, but degree details vary) (Barnard Bulletin (student publication))
- Whether she earned her master’s before or after founding the farm (Mama Farm (official site) vs. Barnard Bulletin (student publication))
- 1952: Born in Rome, Italy (Wikipedia)
- 1982: Signs Lancôme contract (Wikipedia)
- 1986: Stars in Blue Velvet (Wikipedia)
- 2013: Founds Mama Farm (Wikipedia)
- Continues acting (e.g., 2024 BBC special The Death of Stalin) (IMDb (filmography))
- Expanding conservation work with heritage breeds (Mama Farm (official site))
- Advocating for animal welfare through speaking and writing (Barnard Bulletin (student publication))
Seven key facts paint the full picture of Rossellini’s biography — from her legendary lineage to her current calling as an animal behaviorist.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini |
| Born | 18 June 1952 |
| Birthplace | Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | Italian, American |
| Occupations | Actress, model, filmmaker, farmer, animal behaviorist |
| Years Active | 1979–present |
| Children | Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann (b. 1983) |
What made Isabella Rossellini famous?
Modeling career with Lancôme
In 1982, Isabella Rossellini signed an exclusive contract with Lancôme, becoming the face of the luxury brand for 14 years (Wikipedia (biographical reference)). That partnership cemented her image as one of the most recognizable models of the 1980s.
Breakthrough acting role in Blue Velvet
Four years after her Lancôme deal, Rossellini starred as Dorothy Vallens in David Lynch’s Blue Velvet (1986). The role earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead and remains her most iconic performance (IMDb (industry profile)).
Other notable film roles
Rossellini went on to appear in major films including Death Becomes Her (1992), for which she won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress, and The Innocent (1993) (IMDb (industry profile)). She also made her film debut earlier in Vincente Minnelli’s A Matter of Time (1976) (IMDb Bio (career overview)).
Rossellini’s dual identity as a high-fashion model and a critically acclaimed actress was rare in the 1980s. The same face selling perfume was also delivering one of cinema’s most disturbing performances — a paradox that defined her early fame.
The implication: Her early success set the stage for a career that refused to be boxed in.
Where is Isabella Rossellini today?
Life on Mama Farm in Brookhaven, New York
In 2013, Rossellini founded Mama Farm on Long Island, dedicated to preserving heritage breeds of farm animals, especially chickens (Mama Farm (official site)). The farm sells eggs, offers educational tours, and hosts events.
Work as an animal behaviorist
Rossellini holds a master’s degree in animal behavior and conservation, which she earned in 2019 after attending a lecture at Hunter College that sparked her interest in ethology (Barnard Bulletin (student publication)). Her 2018 book My Chickens and I documents her experience raising heritage poultry (Mama Farm (official site)).
Recent acting and directing projects
Rossellini continues to act, appearing in films and television series including a 2024 BBC adaptation of The Death of Stalin. She also directed and starred in a series of short films titled Green Porno and Mammas about animal reproduction ( Victoria Hayes is Editor-in-Chief at Aussie Wire Hub, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.Related stories
