Isabella Rossellini

Isabella Rossellini

“If I were to pick my parents, it would be Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman.” Said Isabella Rossellini on March 7th at the Orpheum Theater in Minneapolis, Minnesota for Smart Talk’s Connected Conversations series.



Rossellini, comedian, actress, director, model and self proclaimed daddy’s girl spoke of her parents, their love and careers. She also spoke of their affair, pregnancy, marriage and subsequent divorce. And still, she explained they were the best parents, and Rossellini, herself, is the best proof of that statement. A mother herself, Rossellini has had, and continues to have, and amazing career.


Ingrid Bergman



Roberto Rossellini

Isabella Rossellini is joy to watch. She is intelligent, beautiful and so very personable. On stage she comes off as a friend, someone who is confiding to you about her family, her parents in particular who she loved dearly. Usually when you go to hear someone speak you hear a lot about their accomplishments, but not so much about the family unless it is to say how the family helped them in their career. In Isabella Rossellini’s case, it was almost entirely about her parents Roberto Rossellini and Ingrid Bergman. Who they were, what motivated them, what they suffered through, what made them what they were. It was a love story about her parents. When she did talk about her self, it wasn’t so much about her personal life as it was about her career. Family and career, for Rossellini, seem to be one in the same.


Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann

Rossellini’s daughter, following in her mother’s footsteps has become the new face of Lancôme. An interesting addendum to Rossellini’s firing from her 14 year career with Lancôme for being too old.


Isabella Rossellini

If you haven’t seen them yet, check out Green Porn. Rossellini’s latest acting/directing project. You will be entertained, educated and laughing your head off.



You can find out more about Isabella Rossellini here and here. But if you can, see her in person. For me, she was my favorite Smart Talk speaker. You can still see her in Des Moines on April 4th. Tickets are available here.