Veteran actress Ellen Burstyn, a celebrated figure in horror cinema and one of the few performers to achieve the Triple Crown of Acting, made a poignant return to the spotlight at the Venice Film Festival on Monday. The 93-year-old star was honored with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
Burstyn, known for her iconic role as Chris MacNeil in the 1973 horror classic "The Exorcist," accepted the prestigious award in an emotional ceremony. "You can’t imagine how meaningful this is to me," Burstyn said, her voice filled with emotion. "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. At 93, it means you have a fair amount of lifetime to look back on."
The actress, who has an Oscar for her role in Martin Scorsese's "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" (1974), a Tony Award, and two Primetime Emmy Awards, appeared in both a green watercolor suit and a vibrant orange ensemble during the festival events.
Her career continues to be active, with Burstyn currently starring as a 100-year-old Marilyn Monroe in the short film "Flesh Impact." The film, written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, also features Dakota Johnson as a younger Monroe and is described as a "love letter" to the late actress. "Flesh Impact" is set to premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
"The Exorcist," directed by William Friedkin and based on William Peter Blatty's novel, remains one of the scariest films of all time. Burstyn reprised her role in the 2023 sequel, "The Exorcist: Believer."