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Despite being hated when it was released, Death Becomes Her has gone down as one of the most beloved cult classics of all time. The 1992 film, which was directed by Robert Zemeckis (the man responsible for Forrest Gump) featured two Beverly Hills rivals desperate for eternal youth.
It starred Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn and offered a ton of pointed but thought-out commentaries on the media, Hollywood, plastic surgery, and the standards of beauty. It also featured acclaimed model and actor Isabelle Rossellini in an absolutely movie-stealing role.
In an excellent interview with Vulture, Isabella shed some light on her memorable character and her experience getting cast.
How Isabella Rossellini Was Cast In Death Becomes Her
1992 was an important year for Isabella Rossellini. Not only did Death Becomes Her come out, but she was also heavily featured in Madonna's highly controversial "S*x" book, for which she later had some criticism.
"One was so linked to my life as a model because the Madonna book was done by Steven Meisel, who’s a great fashion photographer with whom I worked a lot," Isabella explained to Vulture.
"For me, Madonna and Steven Meisel were my life as a model, and Death Becomes Her was cinema."
Isabella admitted that she very much wanted to be part of Robert Zemeckis' Death Becomes her.
"I wanted that role very much. Robert Zemeckis, who’s such a lovely director and wonderful person, told me I was one of the first people to test, so he needed to test more people because the studio wanted that."
But given the subject matter of the film and the character, Isabella knew she was the right choice.
"I kept on saying, 'But I work for Lancôme! I sell anti-aging cream! I’m the perfect one!' He called me a month later and said, 'You know what? The role is yours.' I was so delighted."
What Isabella Rossellini Really Thinks Of Death Becomes Her
While the movie made a ton of money at the box office, it wasn't exactly loved by critics. Over time, it gained cult status.
"We thought it was going to be like Roger Rabbit, a film for families. But it has a cult following, and mostly a following from the gay community. That was surprising to us. We appreciate it, but it wasn’t the aim," Isabella admitted.
While Isabella loved the movie, she was thrilled with her character. Mostly because she thought it was "ironic" and "funny".
Isabella Rossellini's Character In Death Becomes Her
During her interview with Vulture, Isaballea explained that she felt that her performance, which touched on the risque side, came directly from her experiences in the fashion industry.
"I think it came from me. Being a model and selling beauty, you exaggerate that. Working with Lancôme, I represented another voice of fashion. But there is a voice in the fashion world of absolute beauty, absolute perfection, not inclusiveness but exclusive to the max. That was the inspiration," Isabella admitted.
"In a way, Lisle is a caricature of the fashion victim. That was the model I had in mind. All my movements were very studied — the way I stand up, sit down; everything was poised. I thought that fit the character of this crazy lady who does everything for beauty."
Of course, Isabella also credited the costumes for how she found the character.
"The costumes were so much fun. Some of them were even better in life than what resulted in the film," she said.
However, the costumes and Isabella's history as a model weren't enough for her to fully inhabit her character. In fact, she claimed to have used a body double for her NSFW scenes. This is because she thought the character needed to look like a Barbie doll, and she had a more curvy physique.
"It needed to be someone who looked like [Brigitte Nielsen]. I don’t have the perfect body — I’m rounder, my legs are not as long. We got a body double, and I love that she comes out of the pool still wearing high heels. She swims with high-heel shoes. Then when the scene continues and I talk to Bruce Willis, I have a coat."
While Isabella's body was covered by a coat for the rest of that specific scene, she did wear a stone outfit that barely covered her top. So, not everything was done by a body double.
Regardless, Isabella is proud of her contribution to the film and is thrilled that it has such a dedicated audience to this very day.