Venice Film Festival: Ellen Burstyn plays Marilyn Monroe
AP News • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Ellen Burstyn, at 93, stars as a 100-year-old Marilyn Monroe in the 17-minute short film "Flesh Impact," which premiered at the Venice Film Festival where she also received a Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.
- The film, conceived by Maggie Gyllenhaal and supported by Genesis car company, explores Monroe auditioning alone on stage, highlighting vulnerability and depth in acting.
- Burstyn reflected on Monroe's crafted persona and shared personal anecdotes, including a brief nightclub encounter and stories from a mutual massage therapist.
- Burstyn noted the significant progress for women in film production since her early career, crediting Gloria Steinem for advancing awareness and opportunities for women in the industry.
- With a career spanning over 50 years, Burstyn has won an Oscar, Tony, and two Emmys, and continues to teach acting, embodying authenticity and resilience in her craft.
