Ellen Burstyn: Stop Acting

In this deeply moving episode of *Literally! With Rob Lowe*, legendary actress Ellen Burstyn, 93, shares her extraordinary life and career, reflecting on her transformative work with acting teacher Lee Strasberg, her groundbreaking role in *Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore*, and her harrowing experience filming *The Exorcist*. Burstyn recounts how a single poem—William Ernest Henley’s 'Invictus'—sparked her lifelong love of poetry and became a personal mantra during a traumatic childhood marked by emotional and physical abuse. Her journey from a young woman seeking self-liberation to a trailblazing performer who helped define feminist cinema is interwoven with candid stories about her collaborations with directors like Martin Scorsese and William Friedkin, the latter of whom she describes as a demanding but visionary force on set. Burstyn also opens up about the lasting physical toll of her work, including a permanent back injury from a violent stunt, and reflects on the global impact of her roles, particularly how *Alice* became a cultural touchstone for women worldwide. The episode closes with Burstyn’s new poetry collection, a testament to her enduring creative spirit and wisdom.