This former translator and TV journalist made her film debut in a bit role opposite her mother, Ingrid Bergman, in Vincente Minnelli's best-forgotten "A Matter of Time" (1976). Rossellini came to prominence as the abused, abstracted chanteuse in "Blue Velvet" (1986), directed by longtime companion David Lynch, though she is best known--and better remunerated--for her career as a model. (Her contract as the official "face" of the Lancome cosmetics empire has earned her more than $2 million to date.) Her luminous looks have usually been construed as fitting bruised but angelic characters. Her finest acting moments were in her starring roles in the Taviani brothers' "The Meadow" (1979), and later "Blue Velvet". After these films, Rossellini was often underused as dark-hearted and/or frigid Europeans in such films as "Wild at Heart" (1990), "Death Becomes Her" (1992), "Fearless" (1993) and "Immortal Beloved" (1994). She offered a strong portrayal of a loyal wife torn by her fear of and for her gangster husband (Chris Penn) in Abel Ferrara's "The Funeral" (1996). On TV, Rossellini starred in the cable movie "Lies of the Twins" (1991) and the Showtime series, "Fallen Angels" (1993), in a segment that marked actor Tom Cruise's directorial debut.
In 1997, Rossellini co-starred in the independent drama "Left Luggage", which was later released in 2000. She then joined Cambell Scott for the dram-edy feature "Roger Dodger" (2002), a film written and directed by first time filmmaker Dylan Kidd.
Rossellini was married to director Martin Scorsese from 1979 to 1982.
- Born:
June 18, 1952 in Rome, Italy
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Job Titles:
Actor, Model, Italian teacher, Translator
Family
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Brother: Roberto Ingmar Rossellini. born 1950
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Daughter: Elettra-Ingrid Wiedemann. born c. 1983
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Father: Roberto Rossellini.
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Half-sister: Pia Lindstrom. born 1938; daughter of Ingrid Bergman and Dr. Petter Lindstrom; Bergman lost custody of Pia after she moved to Italy in 1949
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Mother: Ingrid Bergman.
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Sister: Ingrid Aborne. born June 18, 1952; twin sister of Isabella
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Son: Roberto Rossellini. adopted; born c. 1993
Significant Others
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Companion: David Lynch. together 1986-91
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Companion: Gary Oldman. engaged to be married in July 1994; separated by 1996
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Companion: Gregory Mosher. dated c. 1996-97
Education
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Finch College, 1972
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New School for Social Research, New York, New York
Milestones
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1972 Moved to NY at age 19
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1976 Film acting debut in "A Matter of Time" (also featured Ingrid Bergman)
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1979 First leading film acting role, "Il Prato"
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1980 Began modeling at age 28; first assignment was a Vogue cover
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1982 Became first model to sign exclusive contract with Lancome cosmetics
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1985 American film acting debut "White Nights"
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1990 TV acting debut, "The Last Elephant"
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1995 Named as vice president to the Lancaster Group; developed a line of cosmetics and fragrances
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1998 Appeared in "The Impostors", directed by Stanley Tucci
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1999 Launched Manifesto, a cosmetics line
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2000 Offered strong performance as a somewhat timid Hassidic wife in "Left Luggage" (shot in 1997)
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2002 Starred in critically hailed "Roger Dodger"
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2003 Portrayed Josephine in the European miniseries "Napoleon"
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2004 Joined the cast of "Alias" for several episodes to play Sydney's aunt
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2004 Portrayed a high priestess named Thar in the Sci Fi Channel's miniseries "Earthsea," based on the series of novels by Ursula K. Le Guin
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2005 Co-starred with Glenn Close, James Marsden and Jesse Bradford in "Heights" a drama following five New Yorkers over 24-hours
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2006 Cast in director Doug McGrath's Truman Capote biopic "Infamous"
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2006 Starred as Anthony LaPaglia's wife in "The Architect"
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TV appearances in Italy, "The Other Sunday" and "Pap'occhio"
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Taught Italian at New School for Social Research
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Worked as TV journalist for RAI-TV in Italy
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Worked as translator for Italian News Bureau
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Worked with costumers of father's films as teenager