Anne Bancroft worked with an American.
Anna Maria Louisa Italiano ( September 17 , 1931 -- June 6 , 2005 ) , known professionally as Anne Bancroft , was an American actress associated with the method acting school , having studied under Lee Strasberg . Lee Strasberg ( born Israel Strasberg ; November 17 , 1901February 17 , 1982 ) was a Polish-born American actor , director , and theatre practitioner . From his base in New York , he trained several generations of theatre and film notables , including Anne Bancroft , Dustin Hoffman , Montgomery Clift , James Dean , Marilyn Monroe , Jane Fonda , Julie Harris , Paul Newman , Ellen Burstyn , Al Pacino , Geraldine Page , Eli Wallach , and directors Frank Perry and Elia Kazan .