Isabella Rossellini almost didn't make death her role

Despite a career with a variety of acclaimed roles, Isabella Rossellini never received an Oscar nomination. This year, fans and critics alike are hoping that changes with her latest film, Conclave.

At the Middleburg Film Festival, the famous actress graced the grounds of Salamander Resort to promote “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. Interviewed there for the diversity On the Awards Circuit Podcast, Rossellini shared amazing insights into her iconic career, discussed her latest role, and reflected on the complicated dance between artistic expression and the commercial pressures that define the film industry. Listen below.

In “Conclave,” Rossellini plays Sister Agnes, a nun who subtly navigates the power dynamics within the Catholic Church during the election of a new pope. The role allowed Rossellini to embody submissiveness and authority through a reserved but respectful demeanor. She described how she gives Sister Agnes “authority through silence and humility,” capturing the tension between awe and influence that many women experience in patriarchal institutions.

Rossellini showed warmth and affection in her previous roles, particularly in “Blue Velvet” and “Death Becomes Her” – films that cemented her status as an icon of beauty and complexity. She humorously recalled her initial uncertainty about taking on the role of Rhuman's Lisle in Robert Zemeckis' horror comedy Death Becomes Her, a mysterious woman who guards the secret of eternal youth. “I remember reading the script,” Rossellini recalls diversity“At the time, I had a big modeling career and a contract with a cosmetics company that made anti-aging creams. I thought, 'Oh, I'm the perfect person.'”

However, when she auditioned, Zemeckis initially expressed doubts, telling Rossellini that the studio wanted “someone more famous and more established.” It's hard to imagine that the daughter of legendary filmmaker Roberto Rossellini and acclaimed actress Ingrid Bergman wasn't “established” enough.

Rossellini credits her father's involvement in neorealism with shaping her approach to storytelling. “He believed in honesty and urgency in storytelling,” she said, recalling her father’s pioneering work. Her mother's versatility as an actress also inspired her to seek roles that push boundaries and challenge audiences.

Her passion for originality found like-minded people in directors like David Lynch, who directed her in “Blue Velvet.” Lynch connects with her father's legacy, who was once influenced by the Centro Sperimentale di Cinematografia, a film school her father helped establish.

Rossellini recognizes the challenges contemporary filmmakers face, particularly in securing funding while remaining faithful to their artistic vision. She recalled stories about unproduced scripts and the financial pressures that can stifle creativity. “It’s a balancing act,” she says, emphasizing the importance of commercial success in sustaining the industry while championing artistic freedom.

In addition to her professional reflections, Rossellini freely discusses the importance of personal and professional relationships with notable authors such as Lynch and Martin Scorsese, to whom she was once married. She cites the relationship of her parents, who remained friends even after the divorce, as inspiration for this way of thinking.

At the end of our time, one wonders what someone with a family legacy like Rossellini thinks about the future of cinema.

“That’s a big question,” she said, laughing. “I remember conversations around the table with directors – Fellini, Pasolini, my father – all trying to find money and wondering how to make their films. And I still hear this question today. Cinema is about 110 years old, so I guess that's just how it is for artists. Thank goodness for commercial films that mix art and entertainment – they fund the industry and support voices like David Lynch's. These two souls of the industry mix and that’s what keeps the art alive.”

Life is complex. This also applies to the cinema.

This episode also features Oscar nominee June Squibb, who talks to Jenelle Riley about her action comedy Thelma.

Variety's Awards Circuit podcast, hosted and produced by Clayton Davis, Jazz Tangcay, Emily Longeretta, Jenelle Riley and Michael Schneider, is your one-stop shop for lively conversations about the best in film and television. Each episode of Awards Circuit features interviews with top talent and creatives from film and television, discussions and debates about awards shows and industry headlines, and much more. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever you download podcasts.