Ellen Burstyn Quotes

Powerful Ellen Burstyn for Daily Growth

About Ellen Burstyn

Ellen Burstyn is an eminent American actress, writer, and activist renowned for her versatile acting skills, social advocacy, and significant contributions to the world of cinema and theater. Born on December 7, 1932, in Detroit, Michigan, Burstyn was the first child of Russian Jewish immigrants who sought a better life in America. Growing up in a working-class neighborhood, she discovered her passion for acting at an early age and began her career in the late 1950s. Early in her career, Burstyn found success on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for her role as Sally Bowles in "I Am a Camera." However, it was her film debut in "The Last Picture Show" (1971) that catapulted her to international fame. This role earned her an Academy Award nomination and established her as one of Hollywood's most talented actresses. In 1974, Burstyn delivered a career-defining performance in "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore," for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress. Throughout the 1970s and 80s, she continued to captivate audiences with her roles in films such as "Resurrection" (1980) and "The Exorcist III" (1990). Burstyn's work off-screen is equally noteworthy. A dedicated activist, she has been a vocal supporter of women's rights, LGBTQ+ rights, and environmental causes throughout her career. In 2014, she published her memoir "Lessons in Becoming Myself," offering insights into her life and the lessons she has learned along the way. Today, Ellen Burstyn remains an active actress, writer, and activist. Her work continues to inspire generations of artists and advocates, making her a truly remarkable figure in American culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The secret of joy in work is contained in one word - excellence."

This quote suggests that the key to finding joy in one's work lies in striving for excellence. By setting high standards, continually improving, and consistently performing tasks at a superior level, an individual can find fulfillment and satisfaction in their work. Achieving excellence not only boosts personal growth but also enhances one's sense of self-worth and contributes to overall job happiness. Therefore, pursuing excellence serves as the secret recipe for joy in work.

"I think every woman's had a moment in her life when she feels like she's not herself anymore because there's so much to do and so little time and you don't know how to get it all done."

This quote by Ellen Burstyn captures the universal feeling of being overwhelmed that many women experience, particularly in today's fast-paced society. It highlights the struggle between the numerous responsibilities and expectations placed upon women and the finite resources of time and energy available to them. The sentiment expresses a sense of identity loss as these demands make it challenging for women to maintain their individuality amidst the pressures of daily life.

"You can't go back and change the beginning, but you can start where you are and change the ending."

This quote by Ellen Burstyn emphasizes the idea that we cannot undo our past actions or experiences; they have already shaped us into who we are today. However, it encourages a forward-looking perspective, suggesting that despite our past, we can still impact our future. We have the power to change our trajectory starting from now, improving the ending of our life story. It's a reminder to learn from our mistakes and move forward with intention, determination, and hope.

"I believe that everything that happens in life happens to further our spiritual growth."

This quote suggests that Ellen Burstyn perceives each event or experience in life as a stepping stone towards personal growth on a spiritual level. In other words, she believes that life's circumstances, whether positive or negative, are ultimately meant to help individuals learn, grow, and evolve spiritually—developing their inner self, values, beliefs, and understanding of the world and their place within it.

"When I die, I want to be remembered for my work and not for my tits."

This quote signifies Ellen Burstyn's desire for her professional achievements and artistic contributions to outlive her physical appearance or personal attributes, such as her looks. In essence, she wishes to be recognized for the impact of her work rather than superficial aspects like her physical features. It underscores the importance of substance over surface appeal, emphasizing the significance of one's character and accomplishments in shaping their legacy.

I've lived most of my life in Manhattan, but as close as Brooklyn is to Manhattan, there are people who live there who have been to Manhattan maybe once or twice.

- Ellen Burstyn

My Life, Been, Maybe, Manhattan

I feel eager to learn as much as I can, not only about my craft but the world and the cosmos and how we got here and whether there's any purpose to our being here.

- Ellen Burstyn

Purpose, Learn, Here, Eager

It's about avoiding reality through various escape routes that become addictions and lead to Hell. My character is addicted to television, chocolate, coffee, to her dream of her son, which has no basis in reality.

- Ellen Burstyn

Through, Addicted, Which, Routes

So I was at the Actor's Studio, thinking about this, and I happened to glance over to the other side of the stage and I saw the ugliest chair I have ever seen. And I thought, 'Well, I could kill that chair!'

- Ellen Burstyn

Other, Over, Studio, Glance

Their life is about getting enough money to put food on the table to feed their children, and that's it.

- Ellen Burstyn

Life, Enough, About, Enough Money

I've never done anything in my career that has gotten as much attention as 'House of Cards.'

- Ellen Burstyn

Career, Cards, Gotten, Much Attention

It's interesting: John Calley at Warner Bros. helped me put 'Alice' together. It was very unusual back then for a studio to support an actress the way he backed and supported me. He even asked me if I wanted to direct the film, which I didn't feel prepared to at that point.

- Ellen Burstyn

Studio, Very, Backed, Warner Bros

I was doing the work I was capable of doing with my own native talent, but when I looked at actors like Marlon Brando, Jimmy Dean, Kim Stanley, and Geraldine Page, I knew that they knew something that I didn't know. I wanted to find out what that was.

- Ellen Burstyn

Doing, Own, Dean, Brando

I always wanted to play Joan of Arc. I've always wanted to do that. Now I'm thinking, 'Maybe there's a story in Joan of Arc's mother!' If I don't hurry up, her grandmother!

- Ellen Burstyn

Play, Always, Joan, Arc

The only Shakespeare I ever did was a production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' two years in a row in my garden in Rockland County on the Hudson River in the 1980s. I had all the actors from the Actors Studio come out, and we made our own costumes.

- Ellen Burstyn

Own, Production, Studio, Garden

There's no doubt that the patriarchy that we live in also controls the movie industry. The heads of the studios are men, and it's reflected in the scripts they buy and the work that gets made.

- Ellen Burstyn

Controls, Movie, Studios, Scripts

Today, people like Reese Witherspoon and Meryl Streep have vowed to improve the opportunities for women, but those promises are still unusual.

- Ellen Burstyn

Like, Still, Meryl, Promises

She loses 50 pounds in the film, and goes from fairly sane to totally out of her mind. So for the first part of the film I was wearing a 40 pound fat suit, which is very, very uncomfortable. But the worst part was the neck.

- Ellen Burstyn

Out, Part, Very, Pound

To me, it's a very moral film. If my son were a teenager now, I would drag him to see it.

- Ellen Burstyn

Him, Film, Very, Teenager

All of my life I have asked the question, 'Who would I be if I had grown up in a loving home?' And I have no way to answer it. I don't know if I would be placid and satisfied with whatever is around me - a happy, jolly, sedentary person.

- Ellen Burstyn

Happy, My Life, Had, Sedentary

When I was 19, I took a train from Houston to New York, and I had in my lap the collected works of William Shakespeare. The play I read on that journey was 'Titus Andronicus.'

- Ellen Burstyn

Play, New, Took, Train

There was no such thing as child abuse. Parents owned their children. They could do whatever they wanted.

- Ellen Burstyn

Children, Abuse, Wanted, Child Abuse

The interesting thing about doing a play is to find a way to make it fresh and do it as though you were doing it for the first time.

- Ellen Burstyn

Play, Doing, Though, Fresh

She goes from one addiction to another. All are ways for her to not feel her feelings.

- Ellen Burstyn

She, Her, Ways, Feelings

What a lovely surprise to finally discover how unlonely being alone can be.

- Ellen Burstyn

Alone, Surprise, Lovely, Being Alone

What happens is you submit your script with an idea of what the budget might be, and the financier will offer you less than that. In order to do it for less, it means cutting out the art, usually.

- Ellen Burstyn

Art, Submit, Means, Budget

I eat healthily and exercise, and I'm not giving up and saying I'm too old - I'm just determined to keep on marching with enthusiasm and interest and curiosity.

- Ellen Burstyn

Curiosity, Giving Up, Old, Not Giving Up

I talked to women who lived there, to get their speech patterns and outlook on life - and how narrow that is.

- Ellen Burstyn

Life, Patterns, Talked, Outlook

We can all live longer, better, than we ever could before. You don't have to retire.

- Ellen Burstyn

Better, Longer, Ever, Retire

I'm interested in the cosmos. I want to know what's out there and how connected we are.

- Ellen Burstyn

Want, Connected, How, Cosmos

I've always wanted to work with my friend Al Pacino.

- Ellen Burstyn

Work, Always, Wanted, None

It's been awhile. My Oscar is getting kind of tarnished. I looked at it a couple of years ago and thought I really needed a new one.

- Ellen Burstyn

New, Been, Oscar, Awhile

With 'The Last Picture Show,' Peter Bogdanovich brought the script to the company that made it. They liked it, and they gave him the money he needed to make the film. He cast it with the actors that he thought were right for the parts. Now, it's the reverse.

- Ellen Burstyn

Thought, Needed, Brought, Reverse

I sketched out a rough story for them and the director said, well it's a good story but we have the go-ahead from Universal to make this script and did I want to do it. I said no, and they left.

- Ellen Burstyn

Director, Good Story, Rough, Universal

They pulled Resurrection out of the theatres, so it was running in New York and I was nominated for the Oscar and there was no ad in the newspapers to say it was running. So it was literally killed.

- Ellen Burstyn

New, Oscar, Ad, Resurrection

I do like to work with young directors because it's such a difficult business that I think after directors have been around a while sometimes, not always, but sometimes their passion gets siphoned off because they get hurt.

- Ellen Burstyn

Young, Been, I Think, Hurt

The real work of an actor goes on inside, and I don't think it changes from director to director - I always go for broke! But I don't get a lot of direction, unfortunately.

- Ellen Burstyn

Think, Always, Broke, Unfortunately

With all the awards I've won, you'd think that I'd at least be able to make a living. It's a really terrible situation.

- Ellen Burstyn

Think, Living, Least, Awards

When we did 'The Last Picture Show,' the whole cast was unknowns, and we all got careers from it. Well, I don't think this could be done now.

- Ellen Burstyn

Think, Last, Could, Unknowns

I feel compassion is so important to develop in ourselves. It's one of the most important elements of being a human being.

- Ellen Burstyn

The Most Important, Feel, Elements

I've liked all the directors I've worked with a lot. And the ones I like best are the ones that have really good taste about what take was best.

- Ellen Burstyn

Taste, Like, Directors, Good Taste

It's a sin to have your films not to make money.

- Ellen Burstyn

Money, Your, Films, Sin

My mother was very glamorous. She was very beautiful, and she had a lot of friends; she was fun and loved to drink.

- Ellen Burstyn

Mother, Very, Lot, Glamorous

I left my career in Hollywood, moved back to New York, and went to Lee Strasberg and studied with him for the rest of his life.

- Ellen Burstyn

Rest, Career, New, Studied

I did my famous cabbage soup diet, so I was able to do it.

- Ellen Burstyn

Famous, Soup, Able, Cabbage

I couldn't kill a chicken, I couldn't kill a cow - I was a vegetarian too at that time - so I thought, well what is there that I could kill? I couldn't kill this and I couldn't kill that.

- Ellen Burstyn

Thought, Chicken, Could, Vegetarian

Directors tend to kind of let me do what I want to do.

- Ellen Burstyn

Kind, Want, Tend, Directors

I wanted to work on this central problem of killing. How you go about killing. Now, in the film I had to kill my children - well, I didn't want to get that far.

- Ellen Burstyn

Work, Want, Go, Central

Well my taste wasn't very good when I first started out. But later, when I began to appreciate the art of acting, I would say the actress I most admire is Vanessa Redgrave.

- Ellen Burstyn

Art, Actress, Very, Taste

I'm always learning and trying new things. When you stop learning, you start dying.

- Ellen Burstyn

New Things, New, Always, Start

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