Ellen Burstyn to star as “Earthy lesbian” in Amy Poehler pilot ‘Old Soul’
Deadline is reporting that Ellen Burstyn has joined the cast of Amy Poehler’s NBC comedy pilot Old Soul. The Oscar, Emmy and Tony Award-winning Burstyn joins Rita Moreno, who has the rare pleasure of having won the full EGOT, and Orange Is The New Black‘s Natasha Lyonne in the pilot.
The plot revolves around Lyonne’s character, Nadia, who works as an aide to the elderly and “feels she has more in common with her colorful old clients than she does with people her age.” Burstyn will play Nadia’s aunt, Eileen, described as “an earthy lesbian with a New Age bent who has recently survived cancer.” Moreno will star as one of Nadia’s clients, a flamboyant Broadway veteran who’s happily married to her writing partner husband.
Poehler, fresh from her long overdue Golden Globe award for Parks and Recreation, is collaborating with Josh Bycel and Jonathan Fener to write and produce the pilot, which will be directed by David Wain, best known for his work on Emmy Award-winning Adult Swim series Children’s Hospital.
The single-camera pilot also stars Nick Thune and Fred Willard, and we can’t wait to see what Poehler and company can deliver. Here’s hoping NBC takes the plunge — Ellen Burstyn playing an “Earthy lesbian” is surely on someone’s bucket list.
Support Metro Weekly’s Journalism
These are challenging times for news organizations. And yet it’s crucial we stay active and provide vital resources and information to both our local readers and the world. So won’t you please take a moment and consider supporting Metro Weekly with a membership? For as little as $5 a month, you can help ensure Metro Weekly magazine and MetroWeekly.com remain free, viable resources as we provide the best, most diverse, culturally-resonant LGBTQ coverage in both the D.C. region and around the world. Memberships come with exclusive perks and discounts, your own personal digital delivery of each week’s magazine (and an archive), access to our Member's Lounge when it launches this fall, and exclusive members-only items like Metro Weekly Membership Mugs and Tote Bags! Check out all our membership levels here and please join us today!
