Ellen Burstyn, a legendary and moved Golden Lion recipient in Venice

Ellen Burstyn could not hold back her tears as the Venice Film Festival added her to its list of cinema legends with an honorary Golden Lion.

The festival honored the American actress for an “extraordinary” career that has helped shape film history. Festival director Alberto Barbera celebrated her during the ceremony, saying, “There are actresses who cross the history of cinema and build it through their careers. Ellen Burstyn belongs to this category, giving face and body to strong and fragile, ironic and determined women, often confronting the contradictions of their time.”

Burstyn is known for major roles in films including “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” (1974), “The Exorcist” (1973) and “Requiem for a Dream” (2000). She accepted the festival’s highest honor visibly moved, as the audience surrounded her with an ovation.

At 93, with another birthday milestone approaching in December, Burstyn attended the ceremony dressed in yellow and assisted by a walker.

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There are actresses who cross the history of cinema and build it through their careers. Ellen Burstyn belongs to this category, giving face and body to strong and fragile, ironic and determined women, often confronting the contradictions of their time.