Animal sex can teach us a lot, says Green Porno's Isabella Rossellini

Isabella Rossellini speaks to Jian about bringing her weird and wonderful Green Porno project -- inventive, costumed vignettes about the sex lives of animals -- to the Luminato Festival stage.

The actress (Blue Velvet, Big Night, 30 Rock), performance artist and animal scholar shares why she's so passionately interested the animal kingdom, why the human definition of sexuality is too narrow, and why she had no choice but to suit up and perform Green Porno as a solo show.

"I would love to hire other actresses but I couldn't. So that's why I ended up playing all the roles. Everybody turned me down," she laughs.

The buzz about animal sex

There are many great installations in the Green Porno series, but below you'll find one of our favourites. Plenty more where this came from on the Sundance site, including a Green Porno name generator! (Jian Ghomeshi is Red Mangrove!)

Please note: these videos contain sexually explicit language and simulated intercourse.

Plus, here's a special video about the seduction techniques of animals and why the story of Noah's Arc -- with its one male, one female formula -- would not have been adequate for many of the world's more unique critters. 

This interview is part of our special Q Live at Luminato show. It was recorded live on June 5th at the historic Winter Garden Theatre and aired for the first time on Friday, June 6th.