Isabella Rossellini's Siblings & Their Different Life Paths
Isabella Rossellini's siblings have led quite diverse lives. While she is an actress, author, philanthropist, and model, her siblings from her mother's and father's sides have followed various career paths in the entertainment industry.
Isabella Rossellini and her siblings were the children of celebrities. Her father was Roberto Rossellini, the Italian film director, producer, and screenwriter known for "Rome, Open City," "Journey to Italy," and "The Messiah," among others.
Her mother, Ingrid Bergman, was a Swedish actress known for her roles in "Murder on the Orient Express," "Gaslight," "Joan of Lorraine," "The Turn of the Screw," and more.
Photo of Ingrid Bergman, Isabella Rossellini, Roberto, Jr. Rossellini, Isotta Rossellini, and Pia Lindström on December 27, 1967, in New York | Source: Getty Images
Her parents had an affair while her mother was still married, resulting in the birth of Isabella's brother, which became a scandal.
However, her parents later married, but their union lasted only seven years before they divorced. Following their divorce, she had to live in a hotel in Rome with her siblings.
In addition to full siblings, Isabella has half-siblings on her mother's and father's side. She has an older brother and a younger sister on her father's side while having an older sister, Pia Lindström, from her mother's side.
Isabella Rossellini and Pia Lindström at the SiriusXM Book Radio show on March 23, 2011, in New York | Source: Getty Images
Isabella Rossellini Was in a Feud with Her Twin Sister
Isabella was born a twin. Her twin sister is Isotta Ingrid Rossellini, and they were born on June 18, 1952, in Rome. However, Isotta is older than her sister by 34 minutes.
Isotta has worked as a set decorator and is known for her work on "Kill Gil Volume 1," "Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words," and "Kort möte med familjen Rossellini."
She received her doctorate and taught literature at Columbia, where she was a professor of Italian Renaissance literature. In addition, she has taught at NYU, Princeton, and Harvard universities.
Photo of Roberto Rossellini, Ingrid Bergman, Isabella Rossellini, and Isotta Rossellini at their Summer home outside Rome, July 10, 1952 | Source: Getty Images
For three years, Isotta was married to Alberto Acciarito before they divorced. On May 27, 1990, she married Richard Aborn, and they welcomed two children.
She was living in New York in 2018 and is the author of "Know Thyself: Western Identity From Classical Greece to the Renaissance."
Isotta Rosellini, Isabella Rossellini, and Pia Lindström at an opening night party for the play "The Stendhal Syndrome" on February 15, 2004, in New York | Source: Getty Images
In 2006, Isabella and Isotta had a conflict as they celebrated their father's 100th birth anniversary. Isabella's choice of film to honor their father sparked the dispute.
Isotta believed that her twin sister's 17-minute avant-garde film was appalling and unsuitable as it had nothing to do with their father. She revealed that she was embarrassed and hurt by her sister's disrespect for their late father.
Isotta Rossellini, Raffaella Rossellini, and Isabella Rossellini at an event in tribute to their father on December 15, 1981 | Source: Getty Images
However, the sisters have mended their relationship as they recently spent time together. On February 2, 2023, Isabella posted a picture on Instagram of herself and her siblings as they celebrated their mother's posthumous birthday.
Two days later, she posted another picture revealing they had gone together to watch Arturo Brachetti's show alongside her friend, nephew, and niece.
Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini with Isabella Rossellini and Isotta Rossellini on May 23, 1953 | Source: Getty Images
Isabella Rossellini's Brother Spent Time on a Swedish Island
Isabella's brother, whose birth caused a scandal, is Robin. He was once described as "a sweet, self-centered, ironic, and mysterious man."
After their parents divorced, he and his sisters lived with their mother in Dannholmen, a private island in Sweden. He went into real estate and lived behind the scenes before he retired.
Even though he has lived a private life, his relationships with prominent women like the Princess Caroline of Monaco have occasionally brought his name into the news.
In 2020, Robin commented on "The Rossellinis," a documentary film directed by his nephew Alessandro Rossellini. He remarked that he was immune to people's obsession with his father. He said:
"I find that this iconic figure of my father does not do him justice, as it paints a presumptuous and rather unpleasant image. In actual fact, he was the exact opposite."
Robin believed that his father would have loathed anyone who deemed him superior and called him a "master," "great," or even referred to him as a "genius."
Robertino Rossellini and Isabella Rossellini at the operas Oedipus Rex and Persephone premiere on January 19, 2001, in Naples | Source: Getty Images
Isabella's Half-Sister, Pia, Is Also in the Entertainment Industry
On her mother's side, Isabella has a sister, Pia Lindström, born from Ingrid Bergman's marriage to Petter Lindström. Pia was born in Stockholm, Sweden, on September 20, 1938.
She grew up in California and has lived in Pittsburg and Salt Lake City. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College, moved to live with her siblings in France and Italy, and did graduate work at NYU.
Pia also ventured into acting like her mother before going into journalism. Since starting her career as a journalist, she has worked with WCBC-TV, WNBC-TV, KGO-TV, and more. She also hosts "Pia Lindstrom Presents" on Sirius XM Satellite Radio.
Pia Lindström and Isabella Rossellini at the screening of "Ingrid Bergman: In Her Own Words" on November 10, 2015, in New York | Source: Getty Images
All about Isabella's Siblings on Her Father's Side
Isabella's father had been married several times before he married her mother, who had also reportedly had an affair with actor and producer Gregory Peck.
When her father was married to set and costume designer Marcella de Marchis, they welcomed a son Renzo. After he and her mother divorced, he married the Indian screenwriter Sonali Senroy DasGupta and adopted her son Gil.
He and his new wife later welcomed Isabella's younger sister, Raffaella, who changed her name to Nur after she converted to Islam.
Isabella Rossellini, Pia Lindström, Isotta Rossellini, and Roberto Rossellini during a press conference on August 24, 2015, in Stockholm | Source: Getty Images
Unfortunately, Isabella lost an older brother who died as a child. Her brother, Marco, shared the same mother as Renzo. Born on August 24, 1941, Renzo became a producer and director.
He started his career at 16 as an assistant director and producer for his father for over 15 years. Later, he became a teacher and taught production and film direction in Cuba, Rome, and Santo Domingo.
Isabella Rossellini and Renzo Rossellini at the premiere party for "White Nights" on November 13, 1985, in New York | Source: Getty Images
Isabella's sister Nur married a Qatari doctor and moved to Doha. Before her marriage and conversion to Islam, she was a dancer and choreographer.
Isabella's adopted brother Gil was an independent producer, writer, and director. He was born in Bombay but grew up in Rome before moving to New York.
Gil Rossellini and Isabella Rossellini at the premiere of "Kill Gil (Volume 1)" on May 4, 2006, in New York | Source: Getty Images
Gil worked as a production assistant on "The King of Comedy" and "Once Upon a Time in America," before starting his production company with offices in New York, Rome, and New Delhi.
Unfortunately, after battling with the effects of staphylococcus bacteria for almost four years, he died on October 3, 2008, at 51, barely three weeks before his 52nd birthday.
Despite coming from a large family with different mothers, Isabella has had a close relationship with her siblings and has sometimes shared the spotlight with them.