Ellen Burstyn

It was always one of my favorite moments of the Cannes Film Festival, when the city hosted the world press at a luncheon on the outskirts of the city. Wild strawberries grew on the grounds; the wine flowed freely; the food was served by three-star chefs. This was a picnic of epic proportions, even though it did cut into our hectic movie-going times.

The world press, however, are gluttons and pigs, diving into the buffet of incredible foods and stuffing themselves shamelessly.

One year, it was the 100th anniversary of Charlie Chaplin's birth and Ellen Burstyn came to the luncheon to actually carve and serve pieces from the Charlie Chaplin cake that was created for the occasion.

I talked to her about "Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore" briefly. I was a little in awe of her and the formality she maintained, even while acting as a cake cutter. Not every movie star would pass out cake to the press.