Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann
Encyclopedia
Elettra Rossellini Wiedemann (born July 26, 1983) is an American
fashion model of Italian
and Swedish
descent. She is the daughter of Italian actress and model Isabella Rossellini
and American Jonathan Wiedemann (a Harvard-educated Microsoft
design manager and former fashion model), who were married from 1983 to 1986 after having met at a Calvin Klein photo shoot. Her maternal grandparents were Ingrid Bergman
and Roberto Rossellini
. Elettra has an adopted younger brother Roberto (born 1992).
Elettra was born and raised in New York City
and attended high school at the United Nations International School
, where she became fluent in French. Growing up, Elettra suffered from scoliosis
, a condition that had also afflicted her mother, and had to wear a back brace
23 hours a day from the ages of twelve to seventeen.
Elettra attended college at The New School
, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
in International Relations
. She is attending a two year graduate school program at the London School of Economics
in order to receive a master's degree in biomedicine
.
During her time at college, she began a modeling career. Her first contract was for Bruce Weber
for Abercrombie & Fitch
. In addition, she has also modeled for companies like Bill Blass and Ferragamo
and for the fashion magazines Vogue
and Harper's Bazaar
. She spent two years modeling in Milan, becoming fluent in Italian. Currently, she is the spokesmodel for Lancôme
's Hydra Zen moisturizer and Color Ideal foundation product lines.
Elettra is also a co-founder of justonefrickinday.com, a non-profit organization for special charity projects around the world.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
fashion model of Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
and Swedish
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
descent. She is the daughter of Italian actress and model Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Rossellini
Isabella Fiorella Elettra Giovanna Rossellini is an Italian actress, filmmaker, author, philanthropist, and model. Rossellini is noted for her 14-year tenure as a Lancôme model, and for her roles in films such as Blue Velvet and Death Becomes Her.-Background and early life:Rossellini is a...
and American Jonathan Wiedemann (a Harvard-educated Microsoft
Microsoft
Microsoft Corporation is an American public multinational corporation headquartered in Redmond, Washington, USA that develops, manufactures, licenses, and supports a wide range of products and services predominantly related to computing through its various product divisions...
design manager and former fashion model), who were married from 1983 to 1986 after having met at a Calvin Klein photo shoot. Her maternal grandparents were Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman
Ingrid Bergman was a Swedish actress who starred in a variety of European and American films. She won three Academy Awards, two Emmy Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Actress. She is ranked as the fourth greatest female star of American cinema of all time by the American Film Institute...
and Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini
Roberto Rossellini was an Italian film director and screenwriter. Rossellini was one of the directors of the Italian neorealist cinema, contributing films such as Roma città aperta to the movement.-Early life:Born in Rome, Roberto Rossellini lived on the Via Ludovisi, where Benito Mussolini had...
. Elettra has an adopted younger brother Roberto (born 1992).
Elettra was born and raised in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and attended high school at the United Nations International School
United Nations International School
The United Nations International School is a private international school in New York City. It was founded in 1947 by families who worked for or were associated with the United Nations. The school was founded to provide an international education, while preserving its students' diverse cultural...
, where she became fluent in French. Growing up, Elettra suffered from scoliosis
Scoliosis
Scoliosis is a medical condition in which a person's spine is curved from side to side. Although it is a complex three-dimensional deformity, on an X-ray, viewed from the rear, the spine of an individual with scoliosis may look more like an "S" or a "C" than a straight line...
, a condition that had also afflicted her mother, and had to wear a back brace
Back brace
A back brace is a device designed to limit the motion of the spine in cases of fracture or in post-operative fusions. Limiting the motion of the spine enhances the healing process and minimizes the patient's discomfort.Common back braces include:...
23 hours a day from the ages of twelve to seventeen.
Elettra attended college at The New School
The New School
The New School is a university in New York City, located mostly in Greenwich Village. From its founding in 1919 by progressive New York academics, and for most of its history, the university was known as the New School for Social Research. Between 1997 and 2005 it was known as New School University...
, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in International Relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
. She is attending a two year graduate school program at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
in order to receive a master's degree in biomedicine
Biomedicine
Biomedicine is a branch of medical science that applies biological and other natural-science principles to clinical practice,. Biomedicine, i.e. medical research, involves the study of physiological processes with methods from biology, chemistry and physics. Approaches range from understanding...
.
During her time at college, she began a modeling career. Her first contract was for Bruce Weber
Bruce Weber (photographer)
Bruce Weber is an American fashion photographer and occasional filmmaker. He is most widely known for his ad campaigns for Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Pirelli, Abercrombie & Fitch, Revlon, and Gianni Versace, as well as his work for Vogue, GQ, Vanity Fair, Elle, Life, Interview, and Rolling Stone...
for Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch
Abercrombie & Fitch is an American retailer that focuses on casual wear for consumers aged 18 to 22. It has over 300 locations in the United States, and is expanding internationally....
. In addition, she has also modeled for companies like Bill Blass and Ferragamo
Salvatore Ferragamo
Salvatore Ferragamo was a Florentine and Italian shoe designer. He worked with many Hollywood stars in the 1920s, before returning to Italy to found the eponymous company making unique hand-made footwear. His scientific and creative approach to shoes spawned many innovations such as the wedge heel...
and for the fashion magazines Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
and Harper's Bazaar
Harper's Bazaar
Harper’s Bazaar is an American fashion magazine, first published in 1867. Harper’s Bazaar is published by Hearst and, as a magazine, considers itself to be the style resource for “women who are the first to buy the best, from casual to couture.”...
. She spent two years modeling in Milan, becoming fluent in Italian. Currently, she is the spokesmodel for Lancôme
Lancôme
Lancôme Paris is a makeup brand. Owned by L'Oréal since 1964, Lancôme is part of the Luxury Products division, which offers skin care, fragrances, and makeup at higher-end prices....
's Hydra Zen moisturizer and Color Ideal foundation product lines.
Elettra is also a co-founder of justonefrickinday.com, a non-profit organization for special charity projects around the world.