ELLEN BURSTYN - BURSTYN: 'ACTORS NEED HELP'

BURSTYN: 'ACTORS NEED HELP'

Oscar winner ELLEN BURSTYN has slammed the state of contemporary drama, calling for actors to seek training before taking on stage and screen roles. The REQUIEM FOR A DREAM actress is disgusted by falling standards in Hollywood and on Broadway, and blames the influence of television on their demise. She says, "I am appalled. I saw a couple of things (on Broadway) that were billed as good, but they were shockingly bad. I can't recommend anything on Broadway. "I think (acting) needs some help. "TV has lowered the bar. With quicker schedules everything is rushed, so the quality gets lowered." Burstyn famously won an Emmy nomination earlier this year (06) for a 14 second cameo in television drama MRS HARRIS.