Ellen Burstyn, born Edna Rae Gillooly, is an American actress best recognized for her roles in movies of the 1970s, including The Last Picture Show, Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and The Exorcist. Over a period of six decades, she has worked consistently in film, theatre, and television, earning numerous awards and accolades, including an Academy Award, multiple Emmy Award nominations, and Golden Globe Award nominations for her performances. However, unlike her professional life, her personal life has been marked by challenges. Burstyn’s parents divorced when she was young, after which she and her two brothers lived with their mother and abusive stepfather. After failing her senior year of high school, Burstyn dropped out and worked a number of odd jobs before pursuing acting. She has been married and divorced three times. Her third husband was actor Neil Nephew, who had schizophrenia. The actress suffered physical abuse at his hands, both before and after their divorce in 1972. Since then, she has continued to focus on her career while also exploring spirituality and activism. She has also been involved in political and social activism. Raised Catholic, Burstyn embraces elements of multiple faiths, including Christianity, Sufism, and Hinduism.