Introduction
Robin Rossellini is the only son of Swedish film star Ingrid Bergman and Italian director Roberto Rossellini. He arrived in 1950 as the child of one of Hollywood’s biggest scandals. Newspapers ran his birth on front pages around the world.
Yet Robin Rossellini never chased fame. He turned down acting, worked quietly in finance, and later spent a winter alone on a remote Swedish island. This biography covers his family, his early life, his jet-set years, and the private life he chose. Public information about him is limited, so this article sticks to what reliable sources confirm.
Who Is Robin Rossellini?
Robin Rossellini is an Italian-born member of one of cinema’s most famous families. His full birth name is commonly given as Renato Roberto Ranaldo Giusto Giuseppe Rossellini. Family and press usually call him Robertino or Robin. Some sources also list him as Robertino Ingmar Rossellini.
Most sources give his birth date as 2 February 1950, which makes him 76 in 2026. One fashion outlet lists 7 February instead. He is the elder brother of actress Isabella Rossellini and academic Isotta Ingrid Rossellini.
Quick Facts About Robin Rossellini
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Renato Roberto Ranaldo Giusto Giuseppe Rossellini |
| Known as | Robin, Robertino, Roberto Rossellini Jr. |
| Born | 2 February 1950 (most cited date) |
| Age | 76 (as of 2026) |
| Father | Roberto Rossellini, film director |
| Mother | Ingrid Bergman, actress |
| Work | Finance (per his own account) |
| Marital status | Never married (per 2021 interview) |
| Children | None (per 2021 interview) |
| Lives | Paris, France (as of 2021) |
Robin Rossellini’s Family Background and Relationships
Parents: Ingrid Bergman and Roberto Rossellini
Robin Rossellini’s story starts with a letter. In 1948, Ingrid Bergman wrote to Roberto Rossellini and offered to work with him. The two met, made Stromboli together, and fell in love. At the time, both were married to other people.
Bergman became pregnant with Robin, and the scandal grew much larger. She was effectively shut out of Hollywood for years. Robin was born in the same month Stromboli opened. In a 2021 interview, he described himself as the son of the scandal, photographed constantly from birth.
His parents married in 1950. They separated after Roberto went to India in 1957, and their marriage was annulled in 1958.
Robin Rossellini’s Siblings
Robin has a large, blended family:
- Isabella Rossellini – his younger sister, an actress and former Lancôme model, born 18 June 1952.
- Isotta Ingrid Rossellini – Isabella’s twin, a scholar who teaches Italian literature.
- Pia Lindström – his maternal half-sister from Bergman’s first marriage to Petter Lindström.
- Renzo Rossellini – his paternal half-brother from his father’s first marriage to Marcella De Marchis.
- Marco Romano Rossellini – another half-brother, who died as a child in 1946.
- Raffaella (Nur) Rossellini – his half-sister from his father’s later relationship with Sonali Das Gupta.
- Gil Rossellini – Sonali’s son, whom Roberto adopted. Gil died in 2008.
Stepfather and Dannholmen
After the split, Ingrid Bergman met Swedish producer Lars Schmidt in 1958. Schmidt owned Dannholmen, a small island off Sweden’s west coast. The family spent summers there. Robin later returned to that same island as an adult.
Robin Rossellini’s Career and Personal Identity
Robin Rossellini did not follow his parents into film. Director Franco Zeffirelli once offered him the role of Romeo in Romeo and Juliet. Robin said no. He later explained that acting needs vanity, and he felt he lacked enough of it. He also said he wanted less attention, not more.
Instead, he worked in finance. By his own account, he worked only enough to save money and live as he wished. He has lived in Italy, France, England, the United States, and Egypt.
He also holds a relaxed view of his famous father’s films. He told an interviewer he prefers Federico Fellini’s lighter style. He even recalled an early disagreement with his father over La Dolce Vita, a film Robin loved and Roberto disliked.
Important Public Mentions and Notable Moments
A Childhood at the Hotel Raphaël
One story stands out from Robin’s childhood. Around age seven, he lived alone for several months at the Hotel Raphaël in Paris. His father was in India and his mother was filming in London. His parents kept him in Paris so his schooling would not stop.
Robin says hotel guests took turns looking after him. He named Ernest Hemingway, Gregory Peck, Marcello Mastroianni, and Sandra Milo. He insists the experience felt fun, not traumatic.
Robin Rossellini and Princess Caroline of Monaco
In the early 1980s, Robin Rossellini became a regular in jet-set news. After Princess Caroline divorced Philippe Junot, she was briefly engaged to Robin. Photo archives show the pair together in Monaco and Paris between 1981 and 1983. Photographers also captured Robin arriving at the Monaco palace after Princess Grace died in September 1982.
Eight Months Alone on a Swedish Island
Around 2017, Robin spent a full winter alone on Dannholmen. The island has no trees, no heating, and only one wooden house. He wanted to experience silence, solitude, and space.
One day, ice trapped his small boat away from the island at about −25°C. He believed he might die there. Passing fishermen rescued him. He stayed for eight months and left only when summer came.
Personal Side of Robin Rossellini’s Story
Robin Rossellini describes himself as happily European rather than Italian or Swedish. Friends in France and Sweden see him as Italian. In Italy, he says he feels like a foreigner.
He credits his mother with a Swedish idea called lagom. It means moderation and a dislike of showing off. Robin says Bergman worked in a showy job but stayed modest in private. He sees himself the same way.
He also speaks openly about money and freedom. He says his family had less money than people assumed. In his youth, he accepted invitations to luxury homes and parties without guilt. Later, he grew tired of that life.
In the same 2021 interview, he said he never married and never had children. He called this choice selfish but honest. He wanted the freedom to change cities, countries, and jobs at will.
Robin Rossellini Family and Relationship Table
| Name | Relationship to Robin Rossellini | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ingrid Bergman | Mother | Swedish actress (1915–1982) |
| Roberto Rossellini | Father | Italian neorealist director (1906–1977) |
| Isabella Rossellini | Sister | Actress and model, born 1952 |
| Isotta Ingrid Rossellini | Sister | Isabella’s twin; literature scholar |
| Pia Lindström | Maternal half-sister | Former TV journalist |
| Renzo Rossellini | Paternal half-brother | Film producer |
| Raffaella (Nur) Rossellini | Paternal half-sister | Born 1958 |
| Gil Rossellini | Adoptive half-brother | Filmmaker; died 2008 |
| Lars Schmidt | Stepfather | Bergman’s third husband; owned Dannholmen |
| Alessandro Rossellini | Nephew | Director of The Rossellinis (2020) |
| Princess Caroline of Monaco | Former fiancée | Brief engagement in the early 1980s |
Recent Public Visibility
Robin Rossellini keeps a very low profile today. His most recent screen appearance came in The Rossellinis (2020). His nephew Alessandro Rossellini directed this documentary about Roberto Rossellini’s children. Reviewers noted that Alessandro called his uncle an international playboy and a recluse in one person.
In November 2021, Italian newspaper Il Foglio published a long interview with him. At that time, he lived in Paris and rarely used social media. We found no reliable public reports about him after 2021.
Frequently Asked Questions About Robin Rossellini
Who is Robin Rossellini?
Robin Rossellini is the son of actress Ingrid Bergman and director Roberto Rossellini. He is also the brother of actress Isabella Rossellini.
How old is Robin Rossellini?
Most sources give his birth date as 2 February 1950. That makes him 76 years old in 2026.
Is Robin Rossellini married?
No. In a 2021 interview, Robin Rossellini said he never married. He was briefly engaged to Princess Caroline of Monaco in the early 1980s.
Does Robin Rossellini have children?
No. He stated in 2021 that he has no children.
What does Robin Rossellini do for a living?
He says he worked in finance, earning enough to live freely. He turned down an acting role offered by Franco Zeffirelli.
Where does Robin Rossellini live?
As of 2021, he lived in Paris. He also has close ties to Dannholmen, his mother’s former summer island in Sweden.
Is Robin Rossellini related to Isabella Rossellini?
Yes. Isabella Rossellini is his younger sister. They share the same parents.
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