At Venice, Ellen Burstyn reflects on playing Marilyn Monroe and a lifetime in movies
PUBLISHED Sep 7, 2026, 11:33 AM ET
Legendary actress Ellen Burstyn accepted the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the eighty-third Venice International Film Festival. At ninety-three years old, Burstyn traveled to the Lido to receive the prestigious honor and debuted her role in Maggie Gyllenhaal’s short film Flesh Impact. In the production, Burstyn portrays a one-hundred-year-old interpretation of Marilyn Monroe during a stark stage audition. During festival panels, Burstyn discussed her career, attributing her cinematic longevity to rigorous technical training at the Actors Studio. Festival artistic director Alberto Barbera praised her contributions to American cinema. Industry peers and critics commended her continuous dedication to complex, vulnerable performances, defying conventional career retrospectives.
By Sarah Whitman | JQJO News
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Venice Film Festival formally presented the Golden Lion award on Sept 7, 2026. https://www.labiennale.org/en/news/ellen-burstyn-golden-lion-lifetime-achievement
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Ellen Burstyn talks playing older Marilyn Monroe in Venice
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Ellen Burstyn reflects on Marilyn Monroe at Venice Film Festival
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