Actress Ellen Burstyn, 93, became visibly emotional and broke down in tears on Monday night as she accepted the Venice Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. The honor adds to her impressive collection, which includes an Oscar, a Tony Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, making her a member of the elite "Triple Crown of acting."
Upon receiving a lengthy standing ovation, Burstyn expressed her overwhelm. "You're making me cry! You're overwhelming me, you know. I don't know how to recover from that generous greeting," she told the audience. "You can't imagine how meaningful this is to me. It's one thing to win an Oscar, a Tony or an Emmy — all of which I've won... But this … it's a lot."
Burstyn, best known for her role as Chris MacNeil in the 1973 horror classic The Exorcist, reflected on her decades-long career at 93. "At 93, it means you have a far amount of lifetime to look back on," she said. "I thought, maybe it's not just a record of what you've accomplished, but what you've learned."
She recounted an anecdote from the set of Martin Scorsese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974), for which she won her Academy Award for Best Actress. Burstyn described a scene where she had to drive at night with the director and cinematographer on the car's hood, blocking her view. Relying on the white line in the middle of the road, she navigated the situation safely. Drawing a parallel to her country, she added, "I hope — no, pray — that my own country will find its own white line."
Burstyn's career continues to be active. Her latest project is a short film titled Flesh Impact, where she portrays a 100-year-old Marilyn Monroe alongside Dakota Johnson. The film, described as a "love letter" to Monroe, was written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal and is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
Her other notable film credits include Requiem For A Dream (2000), Interstellar (2014), and Pieces Of A Woman (2020). The Exorcist, directed by William Friedkin and based on William Peter Blatty's novel, followed Burstyn's character as she sought help from priests to exorcise her daughter of a demon. The production of the 1973 film was reportedly beset by challenges, including a fire that destroyed much of the set.
