Jolie dedicated seven months to mastering six dramatic arias associated with Callas, who tragically passed away in 1977. The screenplay, crafted by Steven Knight, focuses on Callas’s later years, where she reflects on her extraordinary achievements on the world's most famous opera stages while grappling with her inability to surpass them. Adding to the drama is her tumultuous romance with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis.
The combination of an exceptional script and Larraín’s directorial vision made this project irresistible for Jolie. She shared that such profound roles don’t come along often, stating, “This kind of work is not asked of me very often. And if it’s asked of me, it’s not often with this kind of material and this director, so these things come once in a lifetime.”
Jolie described her experience working on the film as transformative, revealing that playing someone she admired deeply felt like a gift that brought emotional healing. “[The role] changed me as a person. It helped heal a part of me,” she remarked, although she found it too personal to elaborate on how exactly the film affected her.
Reflecting on her journey, Jolie recalled her early days on set, where she felt overwhelmed, to the exhilarating moment of singing at La Scala in Milan. “From that first day [on set] not being able to breathe and crying to singing at the top of my lungs at La Scala, those moments changed me,” she said. Since wrapping up the film, she admitted she hasn’t been able to listen to Callas’s recordings.
“Maria” premiered at the Venice Film Festival 2024 to rave reviews, receiving an impressive eight-minute standing ovation. Fans can look forward to seeing the film in select theaters on November 27, followed by its streaming debut on Netflix on December 11. Jolie’s portrayal promises to be a captivating tribute to one of opera's most iconic figures.
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