Ellen Burstyn’s career is a great case study for young actors who want to make it big in the world of cinema. The Exorcist (1973) and Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore (1974) star is widely considered a savant of film and theater. Her career is defined by acting brilliance, but at the same time, she is respected as a trailblazer for actors and women in Hollywood. Such a meaningful career deserves to be celebrated, and the Venice Film Festival is exactly doing that.

At the 83rd Venice International Film Festival taking place from September 2-12, 2026, Ellen Burstyn will be felicitated with the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement. The Film Festival announced the news on Tuesday. The decision was publicized through Alberto Barbera’s recommendation, with the Biennale's Board of Directors' approval.

"A performer of rare intensity and truth, Ellen Burstyn has spanned over fifty years of American cinema, bringing depth and complexity to unforgettable female characters, capable of embodying the contradictions and transformations of contemporary women,” Barbera said about Burstyn, marking her knack for portraying her characters with a lived-in sense of resilience and bravery

Ellen Burstyn will receive the Golden Lion during the showing of Maggie Gyllenhaal's short film Flesh Impact. Sepideh Moafi, Peter Sarsgaard, and Dakota Johnson are also featured in the movie besides Burstyn. The actress will personify the late actress' older self. On the other hand, Johnson depicts her at the pinnacle of her career.

Deserving of the honor she is about to receive, Burstyn’s career is decorated with moments of brilliance and recognition from the most prestigious pedestals of acting.

Flipping through the glorious pages of Ellen Burstyn’s career 

Evelyn Burstyn's seven-decade-spanning career is embellished with over 100 projects and the rare Triple Crown of Acting: an Academy Award (Best Actress for Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, 1974), a Tony Award (Same Time, Next Year, 1975), and two Emmy Awards. Her other standout performances include The Last Picture Show (1971, Oscar and Golden Globe nomination), Resurrection (1981, Oscar nomination), and Requiem for a Dream (2000, Oscar and Golden Globe nomination).

Notably, she was inducted into the Theater Hall of Fame in 2014. She currently serves as the co-president of the Actors Studio alongside Al Pacino and Alec Baldwin. A career like hers is something most actors desperately wish for, and yet to achieve it takes much more than just wishing. It is this enviable career that has brought her to the thresholds of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Film Festival.

Which is your favorite film from Ellen Burstyn’s filmography? Do let us know in the comments.

Written by

Harshit Kumar

Edited by

Adiba Nizami