In movies, the life of a
postulant nun isn’t so divine

Robyn’s Hood
By Robyn McCloskey

Last week I got to hang out with one of my favorite actresses, Academy Award-winner Ellen Burstyn. OK, to use the term "hang out" may be stretching it a bit, but I was at the same place at the same time, and that has to count for something.
The great Ms. Burstyn, star of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Same Time Next Year, and The Exorcist, just to name a few titles from her long and impressive film resume, is starring in the upcoming movie Our Lady of Victory. It’s a true story based on the 1972 championship season of Immaculata College’s girls basketball team and their new coach, Cathy Rush, played in the film by the adorable Carla Gugino.
The movie is now in production, and my career as an "extra" brought me the luck of being cast as Postulant Nun No. 7. Apparently I’m not good enough to play a full-fledged nun, just one in training. But knowing Ellen was to be my mother superior helped heal my wounded pride. After I was fitted in wardrobe in the stylish postulant nun’s habit, circa 1972, I asked if I should then go to makeup.
"Oh, no, no makeup for the nuns."
"But I don’t look so good without makeup."
"Oh well."
"But I’m going to see Ellen Burstyn today and I’d like to make a good impression."
"Again . . . Oh well."
So again I had to swallow my pride and appear on the set, a nun-in-training without makeup. But knowing all the other "sisters" pretty much looked like I did helped make me feel a little better. At least until I caught some of the women discreetly applying foundation and lip gloss, which, if you ask me, is no way for a nun to act, even if they’re in training. And don’t tell me that when Mary Tyler Moore appeared opposite Elvis Presley in A Change of Habit, she didn’t wear makeup.
Anyhow, where was I? Oh yes, it never ceases to amaze me how much time, energy and money go into making a Hollywood movie, even when cutting corners in the makeup department. It was a grueling 12-hour day consisting of 250 extras and about 75 crew. We shot the same scene over and over, from six angles, which, if it doesn’t end up on the cutting-room floor, will most likely take up about one minute of screen time.
One of the producers pouring his own time, energy and money into this movie is the inimitable Pat Croce. Yes he was on-set. Yes he was intense. Another person on-set was the real-life coach of the team, Cathy Rush. No she was not intense. But she was classy and gracious. It was a mini-reunion of sorts for Cathy, since the real-life original players were invited on this day to be background in the movie. They played nuns too, full-fledged nuns, but I guess they earned that honor, though it was hard for me to tell if wearing makeup was one of the perks.
Some of the players even had their daughters involved, playing team members. I can only imagine the sentimental and nostalgic thoughts and conversations held that day among these amazing women.
Sentimentality was just part of this gathering. There were plenty of Philly connections as well, one of them being actor David Boreanaz, best known for his roles in the TV shows Angel and Bones, not to mention having been named one of People magazine’s most beautiful people. He plays Cathy’s husband in the movie. David is the son of Action News weatherman and all-around-nice-guy Dave Roberts. David Boreanaz was not on-set that day, much to the chagrin of most of the women there. But it’s just as well . . . I can imagine how much secret makeup application would have taken place.
When it came time to break for dinner, Ms. Burstyn walked into the eating area with her assistant. I watched her every move, not in some creepy stalker kind of way, but in a "Wow I really admire you" kind of way. Now I’ve been on movie sets before and I’ve seen many an assistant run many an errand. One of the tasks of an assistant is to get the food. But not the humble and down-to-earth Ellen Burstyn.
Not only did she select her own food and even carry the plate, but she helped her assistant make and carry hers, all the while engaging the service people in lively conversation. So I am choosing to stick with my original claim that I got to "hang" with one of my favorite actresses.
Of course, Ellen Burstyn may not have realized that. But then I always look different without makeup. ••
Robyn McCloskey’s column appears each week in the Northeast Times. She can be reached at crmccloskey@verizon.net