Ellen Burstyn in Venice hopes the US will find the right path
American actress Ellen Burstyn, receiving the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival in Italy, expressed hope that the United States will soon “find the right path.” The 93-year-old actress received a standing ovation during the ceremony at the Sala Grande on the Lido, ANSA English reports.
A speech about her career
Burstyn said that a lifetime achievement award is evidence not only of what has been done, but also of the experience gained. The actress, who won an Oscar for her role in Martin Scorsese’s film Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, spoke about the important influence of Lee Strasberg and the Actors Studio, of which she is president, on her career.
She also recalled filming a car scene in Scorsese’s movie. According to the actress, the director, director of photography, camera operator and lighting technician were on the hood of the car, so she could not see the edge of the road near the cliff. Burstyn said she focused on the white line in the middle of the road so as not to veer off it.
“I realized that finding that ‘white line’ on the road is a good exercise when you get into trouble, in order to get out of it. I hope, even pray, that my country will find its white line very soon,” she said.
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Other projects by the actress
Maggie Gyllenhaal, chair of the international competition jury, called Burstyn “our queen” during the ceremony, mentioning her roles in The Exorcist and Requiem for a Dream. Gyllenhaal cast the actress in the short film Flesh Impact with Dakota Johnson, in which Burstyn played a 100-year-old Marilyn Monroe.
On the Lido, Burstyn is also presenting Kornél Mundruczó’s film Place to Be, which is being screened out of competition. At a press conference, she said that she once met Marilyn Monroe at a nightclub and has forever retained the memory of her look and nod.
The actress also said that the position of women in Hollywood has changed significantly during her career. According to her, when she began working, women on film sets were mostly actresses, and full equality in the industry has still not been achieved.
