But one of the hardest things for me to do was to access anger. I could do it on stage. But when I did it on film it was hard for me. That probably has to do with the intimacy of film. And my own personal issues with expressing anger. So I had to learn how to do that.

In 2007 Barkin sued Perelman for $3. In 2005 Barkin set up a film production company with her brother George along with her husband at the time and billionaire investor Ronald Perelman. She is an outspoken Twitter user.

As of 2012[update] Ellen Barkin stars as Jane Forrest (Nana) in the NBC sitcom The New Normal. Ellen Rona Barkin (born April 16 1954) is an American actress known for her roles in the films The Big Easy Sea of Love and Switch.