A screen icon has shared details of her tumultuous marriage to Martin Scorsese – revealing the Oscar-winning director’s often fiery temper.
Italian actress and model Isabella Rossellini was married to Goodfellas and Gangs of New York director Scorsese from 1979 to 1982.
During this time, the filmmaker was hard at work on two of his greatest hits – Raging Bull (1980) and King of Comedy (1982), both of which starred Robert De Niro.
Rossellini opens up about their time together in the new Apple TV docu-series Mr. Scorsese, which was released on streaming last week.
In the third episode of the series, Rossellini reveals the ‘volcanic’ temper buried beneath the director’s 5’3″ exterior – which was not directed at her, but made for what she calls a ‘complex’ relationship.
‘He could get really angry,’ the Conclave star said, adding: ‘not toward me.’
Recalling Scorsese’s anger, Rossellini said: ‘He never hit me or anything like that, but he could demolish a room. A friend of his once filmed him and showed it to him.
‘Marty was shocked because he didn’t realize the level of violence that this minuscule body, asthmatic, could [create.] It was like a volcano. It was terrifying.’
‘I don’t even remember why he got so mad. I think that sometimes it could be a very silly little reason that would make him go over the top.’
Rossellini continued: ‘Sometimes he [would] wake up like, “F*** it, f*** it, f*** it,” and I would say “Marty, the day hasn’t even started.”‘
She described his rage as ‘part of the fuel to give him courage,’ remembering him as ‘this little boy from Little Italy [who had become] this big director who had to direct this big film and big budget.’
‘And I think rage gave him that stamina to get through the day, to get to finish the film, because it’s not easy. So it was complex to be with him.’
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Scorsese’s relationship with Rossellini – the daughter of Hollywood icon Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini – was the third of his five marriages.
He was previously married to Laraine Marie Brennan from 1965 to 1971, followed by Julia Cameron from 1976 to 1977.
Rossellini previously cited her mother’s cancer diagnosis as the driving force behind their marriage’s end, telling Sun Sentinel: ‘It’s strange that sometimes sorrow brings people together and sometimes it doesn’t.
‘You become closer if you’re solid, strong and capable. But if you’re not — and I was not — it can separate you. I panicked and decided it would be better not to be married.’
When his marriage to Rossellini came to an end, Scorsese went on to marry Barbra De Fina, who he was with from 1985 to 1991.
He has been married to his current spouse, Helen Morris, since 1999.
He shares 59-year-old daughter Cathy with Brennan, Domenica, 49, with Cameron, and Francesca, 25, with Morris.
Meanwhile, Rossellini went on to marry Microsoft executive Jon Wiedemann from 1983 to 1986, with whom she shares daughter Elettra, 42.
She is also mother to Roberto Rossellini, 43.
Her other notable romances include the late Blue Velvet and Twin Peaks director David Lynch, and actor Gary Oldman, who she dated from 1994 to 1996.
In addition to her performances in Blue Velvet, Wild at Heart and Death Becomes Her, Rossellini has racked up appearances in The Simpsons, 30 Rock, The Blacklist and Friends.
Rossellini remains hard at work in today’s Hollywood, recently starring as Sister Agnes in last year’s religious thriller Conclave.
She was nominated Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the film, although she ultimately lost out to Da’Vine Joy Randolph, who took home the trophy for The Holdovers.
Rossellini previously spoke out about Hollywood ageism, hinting that she’d probably be able to get more work now she fitted the stereotypical ‘old woman’ roles.
She told The Guardian in 2016: ‘My mum told me that there is no job for women between 45 and 60, because you are in-between. You are not young enough to play the young girl, but you are also not old enough to play the matriarch, the witch or grandmother.
‘So there is a period of 15 years where you’re in limbo and they don’t know how to hire you. Then after 60, a lot of work comes back,’ she finished.
Metro has reached out to Martin Scorsese’s representatives for comment on this story.
Mr. Scorsese is streaming now on Apple TV+.
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