“She died on Aug. 29, 1982, before she saw my success as an actress and model,” Rossellini tells PEOPLE. “But, if I could tell her anything today, I’d say, ‘Thank you. Mama, you influenced me’ “
To much of the world, Ingrid Bergman was a celebrated movie star. The Oscar-winning actress starred in iconic films such as Casablanca, Gaslight, Notorious, and Murder on the Orient Express. However, to Isabella Rossellini, Bergman was simply “Mama.”
Rossellini, a star in her own right with notable roles in films like Death Becomes Her, Blue Velvet, and Marcel the Shell with Shoes On, is also known for her work as a Lancôme cosmetics model and for her humorous mention as Ross’s “hall pass” on an episode of Friends. Currently, Rossellini is touring with her one-woman show, Darwin’s Smile, which explores the intersection of art and science. With a master’s degree in animal behavior and conservation, Rossellini blends lessons on evolution with her acting expertise, drawing inspiration from Charles Darwin’s ideas on the evolution of emotional expressions like smiling.
Reflecting on the 40th anniversary of her mother’s death, which occurred on Bergman’s 67th birthday, August 29, 1982, Rossellini expresses a deep sense of love, respect, and an evolving understanding of her mother. “If I could say anything to Mama, I would say, ‘Thank you.’ I think of her every day,” Rossellini shares. She acknowledges that while relationships with the deceased often remain frozen in time, her connection with her mother has continued to grow and deepen.
Rossellini explains that her admiration for Bergman has increased over the years, not just as an actress, but as a human being who fought hard in her life. “The admiration for my mom has augmented,” she says. “Not admiration as an actress — that was always there — but just as a human being. I understood how hard she fought.”
Isabella Rossellini reflects on the 1950 tabloid uproar when her mother, Ingrid Bergman, who was married to Petter Lindström at the time, fell in love with director Roberto Rossellini. The scandal was so intense that it even reached the U.S. Capitol. “All that controversy and that attack, even the American Senate took a stand against my mom. And for her to stand her ground and say, ‘This is the man I want to marry. We’re going to have three children.’ She did have three children from my dad. That’s pretty amazing, I think,” Rossellini remarks.
Rossellini, now 70, notes that her mother passed away just as her own career was beginning to flourish. “I got my first cover of Vogue in 1982, the year my mom died. She never saw my success as an actress. She was not with me when I had my own children or became a grandmother.” However, she acknowledges that Bergman left behind a legacy of individualism and strength.
“I always loved my mom. I was never critical of her. She was always very independent and strong,” Isabella Rossellini says. “I think it probably came from the fact that she was an orphan. Her mother died when she was 2 and her father died when she was 14. So she really had to fend for herself. She was born in Sweden, and then when Garbo was retiring they recruited her to come to Hollywood.”
Rossellini recounts the story of her mother’s transition to Hollywood, which began with an offer for her 1939 debut in a remake of her 1936 Swedish film Intermezzo. “The producer, David O. Selznick, said to her, ‘Okay, now we have to make you more sophisticated. We’re gonna change your eyebrows and do this and that.’ And Mama said, ‘Absolutely not. I have a big career in Sweden, I’ve done 11 films, I’m married and have a daughter. I’m already known — and I’m not going to change myself.'”
Bergman’s refusal to conform to Hollywood’s standards exemplifies the strength and independence that defined her both personally and professionally, qualities that Rossellini deeply admires.
“Mama had this physical energy, like a Scandinavian Viking. When she walked, I always felt I was behind her, trying to catch up. My own daughter Elettra [Wiedemann] has that. She’s tall and strong like Mama, with me trotting behind. I’m still catching up to Mama today,” Isabella Rossellini shares.
Reflecting on her mother’s work ethic and the challenges she faced, Rossellini says, “What I would really want to tell her is that I understand how difficult it must have been, to be working all the time. And I know that she felt guilty, as I felt guilty, for working. But I am the first one to tell my daughter, ‘No, do not. It’s an example to your children.’ Independence comes first with financial independence.”
Rossellini recalls, “I remember, when she was filming, people would say, ‘Your mother is working, are you feeling lonely?’ ‘Yes, I’m feeling lonely,’ I would say. ‘I want her to come home, I can’t wait to have her home.’ But, Mama, you gave me a gift. The gift of self-determination.”
In these reflections, Rossellini expresses her deep understanding and appreciation for the legacy of strength, independence, and self-determination that her mother, Ingrid Bergman, passed down to her and continues to inspire in future generations.
Isabella Rossellini honors her mother, Ingrid Bergman, not just with words but through action. Mama’s Farm, a 28-acre property in Brookhaven, New York, is a tribute to her mother’s legacy. The farm is designed to resemble an Italian piazza and offers various activities such as theater performances, workshops, and community-supported agriculture (CSA). Recently, Mama’s Farm, founded by Rossellini and managed by her daughter Elettra Wiedemann, expanded to include a boutique inn on the property.
“The rooms are very personal,” Rossellini explains. “There is one room dedicated to my dad, with his race car helmets. Another one dedicated to [ex-partner] David Lynch. Another one to my chickens.” Naturally, there is also a room dedicated to her mother, Ingrid Bergman. “It’s filled with her collection of hats. Mama is always around the farm,” Rossellini adds.
Through Mama’s Farm, Rossellini and her family create a space that embodies their personal connections, memories, and passions, ensuring that Ingrid Bergman’s presence and influence continue to be felt and celebrated in their lives.
