‘A Conversation with Isabella Rossellini: Living with, studying, and working with dogs and other animals’

Actress, filmmaker, and animal-lover Isabella Rossellini on living, studying, and working with animals at her very own “Mama Farm.” 

Artwork by Kathy Cao/The Barnard Bulletin

This illustration is based on Isabella Rossellini’s short film, GREEN PORNO: Spider, in which she explores the mating habits of the insect as part of a larger series on animal procreation. This was one of the projects she discussed in her talk.

By Roxy Rassooly

April 9, 2025

Isabella Rossellini, recently nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as Sister Agnes in “Conclave,” gave a talk at Barnard on February 12, though the topic may surprise you. While she has cemented herself as a household name on-screen, outside of her passion for acting, Rossellini’s love for animals has manifested in a separate career — farming! 

In her talk she described how this stemmed from a curiosity about animal cognition, the study of the mental processes of animals. Growing up, Rossellini always felt like her dog had emotions, sparking her interest in the field, but surrounding adults dismissed her. When attending college, she hoped to study animal cognition to better understand animals’ behavior. However, the fields of study most closely related to her interests were biology and zoology, both of which lacked the focus on emotion that she was hoping for. This prompted her to switch professions, pursuing a career in costume design and eventually acting. 

It was not until she was in her 50s, attending a lecture at Hunter College, that Rossellini discovered what she was looking for: ethology, the science of animal behavior. Making her excitement clear, Rossellini said, “I signed up right that day!” 

She graduated with her master’s in animal behavior and conservation in 2019. It may have been fate, because after she got her degree — which allowed her to better understand animal emotions and behavior — she was given the opportunity to purchase a farm on Long Island, only 60 miles from Manhattan. The name for Mama Farm was both inspired by Rossellini’s daughter, who helps her run it, and chosen because most of the farm’s first animals were female.

“I always loved animals and studying animal behavior, so it was the opportunity to have a very close relationship with the animal,” Rosselini shared. 

She has certainly been able to study and connect with animals on Mama Farm — particularly with the chickens, who she said have quite big personalities. Some like to explore, some are flighty, and some are physically affectionate. She even joked that “the person who wrote ‘Sleeping Beauty’ must have had chickens” because they sit on their eggs in a hypnotic state until their babies hatch 21 days later. 

Rossellini’s affection for the animals was evident as she discussed all the animals’ individuality, explaining how “every animal has a different personality.” She went on to share the names of her eight sheep, all of which are named after famous female artists, including Frida Kahlo, Georgia O’Keefe, and Greta Garbo. 

All of Rossellini’s work with animals boils down to her desire to understand them because, as she explained, even if they don’t speak, “they make themselves understood, and you start reading their body language.” Rossellini also shared that her scientific, artistic, and personal relationships with animals have allowed her to unequivocally conclude that they experience emotions similar to human ones, emphasizing love in particular. She came to this conclusion using empathy — something often absent from scientific exploration, asserting that “in science, we don’t use empathy, and empathy is essential.” 

As the discussion was winding down, Rossellini was asked about her decision to start Mama Farm, and she imparted some wisdom in her answer, saying with a chuckle that “it was ignorance and optimism.” She emphasized that she came to it organically, saying, “basically, I just followed my curiosity.” 

In her final remark of the evening, Rossellini extended an invitation to the audience to see Mama Farm in action. They have a bed-and-breakfast on the property and host events that are open to the public during the spring and summer, with the next event being  a floral workshop from 5:30-7 p.m. on Thursday, April 17.