Veteran actress Ellen Burstyn, at 93 years old, has been honoured with a prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival. Concurrently, she made a striking debut in the 17-minute short film, "Flesh Impact," portraying an unlikely role: Marilyn Monroe at the age of 100.
The concept for Burstyn to embody a centenarian Marilyn Monroe was brought to her by Maggie Gyllenhaal. Burstyn, expressing her receptiveness, told The Associated Press, “It sounded like a good idea to me.” This unique short film premiered at the festival on Monday, drawing considerable attention.
A Connection with Marilyn Monroe
Although Burstyn never personally met Marilyn Monroe, who tragically passed away at 36, their lives did share an interesting overlap. Both actresses had the same massage therapist, who often shared anecdotes about his late friend. He even suggested that Burstyn possessed qualities akin to Monroe and lent her one of Monroe's personal books, "The Thinking Body," which contained fascinating mementoes such as old receipts.
Burstyn reflected on her understanding of Monroe, stating, “I knew that she was not what she presented as her persona and that actually that’s a persona that she created. She created the whole concept of Marilyn Monroe and played it.” She also recalled a brief encounter with Monroe at a nightclub, where Monroe acknowledged her with a nod. Burstyn expressed, “She was so startlingly beautiful and she caught my eye and … I felt that she recognized me. I was very early in my career. And the fact that she recognized me, I just felt so honoured and pleased.”
The Genesis of "Flesh Impact"
The creation of the Monroe short film came about through somewhat unconventional means, initiated by luxury car manufacturer Genesis. The company's chief marketing officer, Amy Marentic, approached Gyllenhaal with the idea of developing a project around what would have been Monroe’s 100th birthday in June.
Gyllenhaal took a weekend to ponder the proposal, eventually conceiving the idea of Marilyn, at 100, engaging in what she describes as “basically the most vulnerable, one of the most vulnerable things I think an actor can do, which is audition, alone on a stage.” Burstyn was immediately her primary choice for the role.
Gyllenhaal felt that this particular opportunity might allow Burstyn “to think about things in a new way.” The two actresses discovered a shared artistic language and approach to their craft. Burstyn noted, “We are interested in the depth of what’s being revealed. And we both want to go there. If we’re going to be doing anything, we’re gonna be doing it from there.”
Gloria Steinem's Impact and a Celebrated Career
While Burstyn's criteria for selecting roles have remained consistent over the years – seeking projects that move or challenge her – working on a film set predominantly staffed by women marked a stark contrast to her early career experiences. During a news conference on Monday, Burstyn commented, “When I first started working, which was 150 years ago, there were no women on the set. There were no women crew. There was no woman behind the camera. If a woman was on set, that meant that she was an actress. Then, slowly, thanks to blessed Gloria Steinem who just died, the consciousness started to change.”
In addition to the short film, Burstyn is also featuring in Kornél Mundruczó’s feature film, "Place to Be," alongside Taika Waititi, which is also being screened at the festival. Feeling "slightly overwhelmed" by the recognition, Burstyn reflected, “I have been asking myself, why do I deserve this? What have I done? It’s a long career. And I finally came to it today that I wouldn’t have had this career without my training.”
This modest assessment comes from an actress whose distinguished career spans over 50 years, featuring approximately 150 films. She has garnered an Oscar for her role in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore,” a Tony Award, and two Emmys. Burstyn also serves as a co-president of The Actors Studio and occasionally conducts acting classes, upholding the legacy of her mentor, acting coach Lee Strasberg.
Alberto Barbera, the festival director, lauded Burstyn's enduring talent, stating, “Her artistry, which could illuminate pain and everyday resilience with dignity, irony and courage, remains an absolute model of authenticity in performance and civic engagement within the craft of acting.”
The day before receiving her prestigious award, Burstyn, while seated alongside Gyllenhaal, expressed some reservations about her gown, questioning if it was perhaps "too much." Her director quickly reassured her, asserting that the occasion was entirely her day. Burstyn concluded with heartfelt gratitude, saying, “I’m just really very happy to be here and very grateful to receive this award and grateful to this lady who put me in this interesting and deep and funny and wonderful movie.”