Isabella Rossellini has opened up about her marriage to Martin Scorsese, describing the Oscar-winning director's temper as 'volcano-like' and 'terrifying'. The Italian actress was married to Scorsese from 1979 to 1982, during which he was working on films such as Raging Bull and The King of Comedy.
In the new Apple TV+ documentary series Mr. Scorsese, Rossellini recalls that while his anger was never directed at her, he could 'demolish a room'. She 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 realise the level of violence that this minuscule body, asthmatic, could [create].'
Rossellini described his rage as 'part of the fuel to give him courage', noting that he was 'this little boy from Little Italy [who had become] this big director'. She added: '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.'
The marriage ended after Rossellini's mother, Ingrid Bergman, was diagnosed with cancer. Rossellini previously said: '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.'
Scorsese has been married five times. His current wife is Helen Morris, whom he married in 1999. Rossellini later married Microsoft executive Jon Wiedemann and had relationships with director David Lynch and actor Gary Oldman. She recently starred in the film Conclave, earning a Best Supporting Actress nomination.
