Isabella Rossellini On Her Unique Accent & American TV | Late Night with Conan O’Brien

(Original airdate: 08/30/95) Isabella Rossellini talks about her unique accent, watching American TV in Europe, and being the face of Lancôme.
Subscribe to watch more Team Coco videos / @teamcoco
Watch more Late Night clips classic.teamco...
FOLLOW TEAM COCO ON SOCIAL
Team Coco on Facebook / teamcoco
Team Coco on Twitter / teamcoco
Team Coco on Instagram / teamcoco
ABOUT LATE NIGHT WITH CONAN O’BRIEN
Running from 1993-2009, Late Night with Conan O’Brien is one of the most beloved late night shows in television history. Known for its absurdist humor, hilarious celebrity interviews and featuring the best stand-up comedians and musical acts of the 90’s and early 2000s. Hosted by Conan O’Brien alongside sidekick Andy Richter and house band Max Weinberg and the Max Weinberg 7, Late Night with Conan O’Brien featured unforgettable segments like “If They Mated,” “In the Year 2000,” “Desk Driving” and made a breakout star of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog.
ABOUT TEAM COCO
Team Coco is the KZbin home for all things Conan O’Brien and the Team Coco Podcast Network. Team Coco features over 25 years of comedy sketches, celebrity interviews and stand-up comedy sets from CONAN on TBS and Late Night with Conan O’Brien, as well as exclusive videos from podcasts like Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend, Literally! with Rob Lowe, Why Won’t You Date Me? with Nicole Byer, The Three Questions with Andy Richter, May I Elaborate? with JB Smoove and Scam Goddess with Laci Mosley.
Isabella Rossellini On Her Unique Accent & American TV | Late Night with Conan O’Brien
/ teamcoco

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

Daughter of one of the greatest filmakers of all time and one of the greatest film actresses of all time.

[@geriallo3639]

Let’s not exaggerate!

[@saidtoshimaru1832]

@@geriallo3639 There's no exaggeration.

[@MarcusLangbart]

@@geriallo3639 where's the exaggeration excuse me? Rossellini's and Ingrid's importance in cinema's history is nothing new, unless you're only familiar with hollywood.

[@uigliam]

​Exactly. Rossellini was a great director. A great one who is discovered slowly, and always a little later. Not the ones who... blow their trumpets every time...

[@michaelverbakel7632]

Half Italian and half Swedish. Now that's one ice cold spicy meatball.

[@dubbelhenke854]

She has intelligence, honesty, integrity and humor. Thats why she is so fascinating. Charisma is not only beauty.

[@asdrubalanibal6853]

Charisma is Beauty

[@lydiapicano8806]

​@@asdrubalanibal6853 I disagree, charisma can be beauty but charisma is something different. It's a special, almost magical quality.

[@Elitist20]

Remember watching her being interviewed on TV at my late parents' place in the 90s, and they agreed - 'She's EXACTLY like her mother!' (They remembered Ingrid from as far back as the 40s.)

[@zoperxplex]

This interview is a good example how nowadays every interview on late night has to be mined for its comedic potential.

[@vauhtihirnuCOLA]

Yes, this era was the best for late night

[@stoogefest16]

Yeah, that’s why I’ve taken leave of the late night circuit for the most part. I can’t stand it when hosts strain themselves in the act of trying to induce amusement rather than allowing it to arise naturally.

[@melanief.204]

Yeah, I hate it that American late night hosts laugh at EVERYTHING the guest says, even though it‘s not funny at all 🙄

[@bubblefish76]

Hosts now have made Late Nights into "Only me talk" shows

[@rayz-x]

Gotta google Gorky The boy from circus now

[@frzstat]

Circus Boy 1956. Mickey Dolenz played Corky

[@jaengen]

She looks like an Italian version of her mother. Both gorgeous.

[@christinebolly3034]

Exactly

[@lydiapicano8806]

Yes, absolutely gorgeous !

[@marialuizasaboiasaddi2160]

Yes I agree. 😊

[@LarsWalker-xo2jn]

Frankly, she's prettier than her mother.

[@jocelynf139]

She was dropped from lancome a year after this interview. A YEAR. WHEN SHE LOOKS THAT STUNNING.

[@Anto_81]

Sadly that's the industry:(

[@ciprianpopa1503]

She was dropped?!

[@cleawox]

Those Lancome ads were unforgettable

[@greenman4946]

To me, a Swede, her accent sounds really Swedish.

[@innovbrain]

Isabella here was 41 years old but the amount of beauty, positivity and fitness here is unbelievable like a girl in her 20s

[@LarsWalker-xo2jn]

I hate to nitpick, but she was actually 43.

[@innovbrain]

@@LarsWalker-xo2jn way better. 43 lively and looking so stunning

[@e4t662]

She's absurdly attractive.

[@hydeparkist]

Ok, then i don't like the absurd

[@konalily]

I was 7 years old at the time and my first introduction to Isabella Rossellini was her role as Lisle Von Rhuman in “Death Becomes Her”. Her stage presence is so captivating, it made me feel like I had to stop whatever I was doing and give her my undivided attention. That movie, easily became my favorite cult classics and what a fun cast!

[@thetrickster4526]

I was - 2 years old at that time.😂

[@evatarida5439]

Omg I watched that movie while I was still in my early elementary school age, and fascinated so much that I still remembered it almost 30yrs later...

[@victoriagadd6831]

I wish he would allow her to talk more. She’s fabulous. People used to say my mother looked like her mother, Ingrid Bergman. Sadly for me, I look,nothing like Isabella. But not only that, she’s smart, intelligent, oozes class and sophistication and my god she’s stunning. Interesting too - if only he’d let her speak!

[@nightowl5395]

Yes, I was thinking the same....a bit too much from him 🤨

[@danielaxivitz6188]

​@@nightowl5395 Million time 👍👍👍

[@mitrapatterson6568]

Oh Victoria, you're cute. You don't like the feather puffing. Men love to get loud and talk over women

[@Chinaski1]

I can totally see why Scorsese and Lynch fell for her

[@emmaphilo4049]

Lucky woman!

[@niceguy3983]

She looks a lot like her mother, specially her eyes

[@uigliam]

I saw her recently in a documentary where she talks to... the beautiful chickens in her henhouse...🐔🐓 It's adorable! ✨ A woman of a unique spirit. Intelligent, elegant, timeless little girl. 👍👍👍Keep smiling at the world, always and everywhere! We are with you. 💪💙

[@missvida6251]

She looks so much like a modern Ingrid. Just gorgeous!

[@simonedangelosericola5742]

"But stereotypes are fun!", definitely something we were allowed to say in 1995.

[@giuseppegungui]

written by stereotype of boomer _chiagneffotti_

[@simonedangelosericola5742]

​@@giuseppegungui ma vatt' ad addurmi'... 😂😂😂

[@leobewley375]

The most beautiful speaking voice .. and woman

[@vauhtihirnuCOLA]

Incredibly good chemistry between these two.

[@djkoenig4716]

With her hair like that she looks like Audrey Hepburn 🤗

[@stephanieclaire2569]

When Isabella mentions the circus show in this interview, she’s talking about Circus Boy. The character ‘Corky’ was played by Micky Dolenz of the Monkees!

[@michelletucker3354]

I think Isabella's accent sounds just like her Mom, Ingrid.

[@katherined800]

Yes, she doesn't have an Italian accent.

[@JesusVelociraptor]

Do you understand how hard it is to pull off short hair? She cannot be hotter. Sit down.

[@konalily]

This is bringing me way back! I was obsessed with this haircut as a kid transitioning in to middle school. The ones who rocked it best was Isabella, Princess Diana, and Ricki Lake. I love being a 90s baby.

[@loveforeignaccents]

@@konalily Ricki Lake, haven't heard that name in probably over a decade... and never remember seeing her with short hair, so I'll have to check it out.

[@IM4fLEX]

I still love this Hairstyle on woman, Nah I dont care about the Karen look.

[@NormAppleton]

More women should have short hair when they are young.

[@geraldfrank1630]

Italian female accents are the best! 👌👏👏

[@ianrastall]

I can't get over that it's as if Ingrid Bergman is among us.

[@NormAppleton]

No, it's part of Ingrid. Her father was a great director. Isabella is her own beast.

[@jaysix8032]

She is absolutely gorgeous. 💜

[@TRIC4pitator]

What an elegant laugh

[@uigliam]

She has the brightness of a child without malice, but intelligent and receptive. Incredibly it looks sexy without showing off sensuality. Her confidence, of a feminine type, gives her a personality that is now very rare today, non-aggressive, very attractive for a man.

[@lordbyron3603]

She has one of the best and most unforgettable accents I’ve ever heard. Aside from being so beautiful…..

[@adelaferreira4575]

She is so classy ,like her mom

[@hummingbird3771]

I quit buying Lancome when they fired Isabella, and I've never used their product since!

[@TheMediaDirectory]

You know she came back to Lancome a few years ago so you can resume using their products😅she appears in their ads today. And they apologized. Isn’t that fantastic?

[@kf31paris]

​@@TheMediaDirectorytrue !!!😊

[@flavianofloris4459]

​@@TheMediaDirectorymarketing is fantastic 👍

[@giseleaparecidadesouza6029]

Wish he would stop interrupting her! He is very annoying with his constant blathering interruptions! Let her talk for gods sake!

[@andrelloyd4010]

Just as beautiful and talented as her mother !

[@Andrea-xs4ks]

I love Isabella and her laugh is wonderful

[@Tom-q9z5s]

Met her at a book signing a little after this time...absolute class, absolute charm. Few people I've met had this kind of impression on me.

[@Vegas2323]

“Damnit Johnny, you know I love my Big Beef & Cheddar”

[@princepeterwolf]

She reminds me of Audrey Hepburn

[@Leo-im9oz]

Its interesting. She does not know Swedish, but she sounds EXACTLY like a Swede speaking english with the swedish accent😂

[@Denis-89]

She actually at times sounds like a Swedish person speaking English, "sweenglish" as we call it..

[@vic5015]

Well, her mom was Swedish so that makes sense.

[@Denis-89]

@@vic5015 yes, I guess but she is mostly French-Italian, isn't she? Strange that the Swedish i so strong since she didn't speak it..

[@watching99134]

@@Denis-89 Fortunately she covers that in the video clip

[@dvessel]

Absolute stunner and her accent kills me.

[@funkhousefevertrio7116]

She's the kind of woman that makes you want to get down on your knees and thank God you're a man.... Yep, she reminds me of my mother all right no doubt about it

[@valeria-militiamessalina5672]

@@funkhousefevertrio7116mommy issues, lol

[@funkhousefevertrio7116]

@@valeria-militiamessalina5672kzbin.info/www/bejne/bou0qGCcd55koMUsi=GVHG-22cfHF9jSZY

[@MaverickZ007]

Her, Helen Miren and Pam Grier. Timeless Beauty

[@nicolobird1397]

+ Juliette Binoche.

[@MaverickZ007]

@@nicolobird1397 Damn missed that my fault Just saw her at Call my Agent and she never aged one bit.

[@lindajansson7341]

That's very true😊

[@vic5015]

Her mom too (Ingrid Bergman).

[@Blondie727]

Don’t forget Monica Bellucci; who like Isabella is another stunning Italian lady.

[@baguil02]

She is 43 years old in this video. That is all.

[@Gravy_Master]

Her mother lived in France and her father lived in Italy. That is all. Let’s all list some useless facts!

[@robert-uc4mf]

43!!!!!! wau thats amazing !! never would have guest it .................................. and i also look a lot younger then my age ! so now she is 69

[@deutugal]

​@@robert-uc4mf71 by now

[@uigliam]

No problem... Growing old is beautiful for a witty and intelligent person. 👍 Keep going!.. Forever nice little girl. You're adorable.. 🌹✨

[@GARY84ROCKS]

"Gorky" is actually "Corky" --- this TV show "Circus Boy" has an entry on Wikipedia en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circus_Boy

[@thekentishpilgrim]

This explains why no one knew what she was talking about. Of course we all remember CORKY, the circus boy! One of my favs!

[@sammygirl6910]

Thanks for this. Never saw it but familiar with the cast.

[@bearcb]

She has her mother’s smile.

[@anggitsantoso528]

her eyes also

[@thetrickster4526]

​@@anggitsantoso528 teeth too.

[@corda93bg]

I'm Italian and somehow didn't know, until I stumbled upon a comment below, that she is a daughter to Ingrid Bergman, I guess it's one of those infos that slip through the cracks. Also, I saw her in 'Blue Velvet' and wasn't really transfixed by her physical appearance, more like the contrary, but here she's an absolute goddess (ten years later nonetheless)

[@josephirizarry5195]

I had no idea about the Swedish influence, now I can't un-hear it when she talks.

[@Quode001]

I clicked on this so fast. She's so incredibly beautiful and eloquent

[@barackobama9958]

Simp

[@zed_2ed929]

@@barackobama9958 POV brack Obama thinks ur a simp

[@LeoStaley]

No idea who she is, but I loved the interview.

[@zed_2ed929]

Simp

[@BeegYoshi24]

You're beautiful too

[@johnkevin5420]

Isabella and her mom Ingrid are such beautiful women.

[@joansmith69]

She's talking about "Circus Boy" where the main character was called "Corky". I had never heard of it either.

[@mickeyrube6623]

The boy who played Corky is Mickey Dolenz from the Monkees. They even made fun of it on the Monkees TV show.

[@joansmith69]

@@mickeyrube6623 Ah, i knew i had heard that name somewhere before. Thanks for informing me further.

[@voxveritas333]

I remember that show and watched it when I was a kid.

[@adarshjose3891]

I thought Conan would ask more about her childhood, growing up as the daughter of the great Ingrid Bergman & Roberto Rossellini

[@ktg484]

He knows better than that.

[@tingdzin]

Her looks have changed over the yeas but she has always been very beautiful, in addition to being intelligent and articulate.

[@sweetjane5033]

gorgeous sweet inventive with a beautiful smile… Creative!!!

[@valsainking]

Isabella reminds me so much of the 1991 Lisa Stansfield when she was promoting her album Real Love.

[@elizaeri1295]

The upgrade and expensive version yes...

[@luciaferraro7288]

Sempre bellissima.!!

[@lisica8458]

Conan is making references to people in American culture that Isabella likely isn't aware of, e.g., Carl Yaztrzemski.

[@deborah8887]

Before political correctness! What a breath of fresh air!

[@trancos7641]

Yes. I live in Germany and I get the thing with the accent😊 Eric Bana had a great german accent in Hannah❤

[@jettaca88]

Timeless beauty

[@mmm91911]

There are plenty of countries where foreign shows are not "looped', but subtitled and with the original soundtrack.

[@aliciadematteis7181]

It is much better. You can hear the real Voice of the actors which is part of their artistic talent.

[@barfymann362]

Her and David Lynch were a cute couple.

[@bigneon_glitter]

One of the sexiest, loveliest women to ever walk the planet.

[@lindajansson7341]

Incredibly beautiful smile, amazing woman!😊

[@csillag4]

"Stereotypes are fun.."!!?? Conan would be crucified today

[@Celisar1]

In Conan‘s case it’s prejudices. He is fiercely anti-German.

[@mintlp]

Exquisitely beautiful woman 😌

[@jeromesassani9537]

My niece and her future mother-in-law from Brazil paid us a visit. I couldn't help making the comment that she had the same accent as Isabella Rossellini. I am sure that I made a great impression on her.

[@roxys744]

She looks exactly like her mother!! Beautiful and classy women !!

[@emmaphilo4049]

She looks gorgeous here. She looks so Lynchean, so dreamy in this dress... A very moving feminity. I hear an Italian accent in her English.

[@andrewhawkings5198]

How can she be so beautiful? She is just he sweetest thing really...

[@TheSwedishRider]

Oh my god, how old is this clip! My father gave me a Corky book that he read as a kid. I loved it but never met anyone who knows it and now I click on a random video and Isabella Rossellini talks about it 😲

[@jedijones]

It's so ironic that Burt Ward was there that day, because the show she mentioned, Circus Boy, had the exact same origin for its lead character that Robin had. Corky's parents were killed in a trapeze accident and he became adopted. Also, Corky was played by Micky Dolenz of The Monkees, so Isabella could still meet him if she wants to.

[@darioplant8029]

It s so nice to see a woman laugh out loud without the usual social shame about it.

[@2Hot2]

That's Italian charm. In the US, if you're not tasering your discussion partner you're accused of flirting.

[@JipCripes-np2ls]

​@@2Hot2She's pretty, but she isn't human.

[@2Hot2]

@@JipCripes-np2ls That's okay, I've had some bad experiences with humans. I've always wanted to make it with a Martian. I am curious green.

[@JipCripes-np2ls]

@@2Hot2 Martians aren't green.

[@cyphermote6857]

Which century are you from?

[@Terelon]

She's beautiful 💗

[@solidkingcobra]

Now I know why Ross from FRIENDS put her on the list. she's a stunner here. she was aight on that FRIENDS episode.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

who?

[@Dario-mn4uc]

Isabella Rossellini con questo look ricorda molto Audrey Hepburn !

[@togasso]

mah...se lo dici tu

[@cassieo4337]

Isabella e piu bella.

[@Dario-mn4uc]

@@cassieo4337 Non è bello ciò che è bello, ma quel che piace, ognuno ha i suoi gusti.

[@5ra46]

It's as if I was listening to her mother. 😮 Wow!

[@Historian212]

She was talking about an old TV show from the 1950s called Circus Boy. The character’s name was Corky, not Gorky. And he was played by a young, blond Micky Dolenz, who grew up to be a Monkee.

[@519djw6]

At first, I thought she was talking about the Russian writer whose pen-name was Maxim Gorky; and "Gorky" means "bitter" in Russian! Silly me!🙂

[@Zappo32]

Belleza italiana clásica. Lovely

[@johnfazzari6208]

She's so charming.

[@enzoeclipsed]

she was so polite laughing at every little thing Conan said

[@ericanderson969]

Well, he’s a funny guy.

[@fenecofeneco19]

praise the male

[@Nichilistaiconoclasta]

She was so well educated, like an aristocratic.......

[@uigliam]

​@@Nichilistaiconoclasta I agree. Aristocracy has more to do with sunny hospitality and accommodating downplaying rather than with haughtiness or coldness.

[@arjandino9106]

She is as fascinanting as her mother was! But she is (or beter to say was?!) a model too!

[@teardrop720]

So beautiful. Still is today ❤

[@Akuvision2011]

Funny that she has this pronounced swedish accent but doesnt know how to talk in swedish 😅

[@sammygirl6910]

She's stunning!

[@giordanotirelli6028]

Today isabella 71 years

[@giordanotirelli6028]

Happy birthday isabella from italian boy live in rome

[@Avonbarksdaleable]

- Im not on your list... - but its not the final one - its laminated!

[@CS-ro1mx]

I clicked because of Ross

[@lindajansson7341]

Do you also have a laminated list? 😂

[@paulhamilton4431]

The daughter of Ingrid Bergman 👍

[@isabellastasicastriotascan6467]

Strange to hear that Ingrid Bergman didn't speak Swedish to her. Still, she grew multilingual. It is everything we want today 🌠

[@Historian212]

She said she did as a child. She didn’t live with Bergman once she started going to private schools, she only saw her on some holidays and some summers as she grew up. Bergman didn’t raise her kids. She left Pia Lindstrom with Pia’s father, and did the same with her children with Rossellini. He didn’t care for them either, though. His kids attended boarding schools, had nannies, etc. When Isabella and her full sibs were teenagers there was somewhat more contact with their mom, and with their half-sister Pia. That’s when Bergman met her third husband, who was Swedish, and so the kids did their vacations in Sweden and picked up some Swedish again. But by then, Isabella’s language learning had been more in Italian, French, and English. (Bergman lived in Paris for many years, so the French came in handy during those holidays with her mom.) Bergman and Rossellini both prioritized their careers over their children. Pia’s father was more of a traditional dad, but he wasn’t in showbiz. He was a doctor, remarried, and except for occasional visits with her mother (very rarely until she was a teen), Pia lived in the US with her father and stepmom. Her father hated Hollywood. Bergman couldn’t get enough of it. When it comes to family, Bergman doesn’t come off very well. But she lost her own mother when she was very young, and adored her father, but iirc he died young, too. So Bergman was hungry for attention, but didn’t thrive as a conventional wife and mom. In any language.

[@zigzag2510]

Come il vino, questa donna migliora con l'età 🌺

[@aamir-hk8px]

What a pleasant lady.

[@ritahorvath8207]

Bashing germans is boring . .

[@ramieal-hazar2438]

J’wish propaganda works I guess.

[@JustSomeCanadianGuy]

Nobody else sounds like her!!

[@hebneh]

I can really hear her mother's voice in hers sometimes.

[@JPMJPM]

Mickey Dolenz was Circus Boy!

[@dimos60]

Did anyone else google to see if she died and they uploaded this or am I too fked up?

[@igano111]

Why did you think she died?

[@Astro_Guy_1]

@@igano111 cuz the vid quality shows that this was a long time ago and she looks like in her 40s.

[@EvaLasta]

Shes only 68 man. This is 26 years old so she was 42 here

[@igano111]

@@Astro_Guy_1 I know it's an old clip, as are most of the channel's uploads during covid.

[@dimos60]

Usually the Coco team will upload an old video with someone who is relevant these days (i.e Kathryn Hahn or Kat Dennings a few days ago because of Wandavision), or someone who he had done a podcast with (the latest CONAF guess is Jaine Lynch) or as a memorial for someone who has passed. I knew the first 2 werent viable options so yeah...my mind went there

[@TheOneWhoDings]

Pretty like her Beautiful mom one of my favorite actresses

[@ajaxfilms]

She sounds like her mom.

[@melaniamonicacraciun9900]

Adorable indeed

[@Big-guy1981]

Mm her English is just C1.

A women's woman, very european, individual style.