Angelina Jolie, known for her diverse roles ranging from an evil queen to a war correspondent, is now stepping into the shoes of legendary soprano Maria Callas in the upcoming film Maria. Directed by Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín, the movie is set to make its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival this Thursday.
Larraín, a seasoned director at Venice, is no stranger to portraying the lives of iconic women with tragic histories. In 2016, he brought Jackie to the festival, with Natalie Portman portraying Jackie Kennedy in the wake of her husband’s assassination. In 2021, Kristen Stewart starred as Princess Diana in Spencer, a film that captured Diana’s inner turmoil during a Christmas holiday. Both films earned their leads Oscar nominations for Best Actress.
Maria is considered the final installment of Larraín’s trilogy on historical women, focusing on Callas, whose name may be less familiar to younger audiences. Born Maria Kalogeropoulos to Greek parents in New York, Callas made her professional debut in Athens at just 17. Her career skyrocketed, and she became one of the most celebrated opera singers in history, known for her extraordinary voice and commanding stage presence. However, her life was marred by public scrutiny, including her “diva” reputation, weight struggles, and tumultuous romantic life, particularly her relationship with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis, who left her for Jackie Kennedy.
Callas tragically passed away in Paris at the age of 53 due to a heart attack.
In preparing for the role, Jolie underwent six months of training. The film reportedly blends her voice with recordings of Callas, capturing the final week of the soprano’s life in 1977. Jolie, who has received two Oscar nominations and won for Girl, Interrupted, is expected to leave Venice before her ex-husband Brad Pitt arrives for the premiere of his film Wolfs on Sunday.
Maria, recently acquired by Netflix for distribution, is among the 21 films competing for awards at the Venice Film Festival, with winners to be announced on September 7.
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