Angelina Jolie received an enthusiastic eight-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival following the world premiere of Maria, directed by Pablo Larraín. The emotional reception moved the Oscar-winning actress to tears as she reflected on the legacy of opera diva Maria Callas, whom she portrays in the film.
“I thought about her a lot in that moment,” Jolie said in an interview at the Telluride Film Festival, where Maria was screened last week. “It’s strange when you feel so close to this real human being. I know that applause was for her life. Often, as artists, we don’t know if our work resonates, or we don’t expect kindness. But ‘Maria’ did.”
Maria is part of Larraín’s trilogy featuring iconic, often misunderstood women. The series began with Jackie (2016), starring Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy, and continued with Spencer (2021), featuring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana. Both actresses received Oscar nominations for their performances, and Jolie is expected to follow suit given the positive reviews she has garnered. Critics have noted that Maria is likely the strongest entry in Larraín’s series, with a compelling script by Oscar nominee Steven Knight that chronicles Callas’ final days and reveals her human side. Netflix has acquired the film and plans to promote it during the upcoming awards season.
Jolie and Larraín share a mutual respect and affection for each other.
At one point during the interview, Jolie jokingly encouraged Larraín to sing opera, saying, “I haven’t heard you sing. You owe me this.” Larraín responded with a smile, “It will never happen. I am no actor.” Jolie playfully replied, “I’ll get you drunk one night.”
Currently, both Jolie and Larraín are focused on discussing their motivations for the project, the challenges of portraying an opera legend, and their hopes that the film will encourage audiences to reassess Callas’ life and art.
Maria is set during Callas’ final years in the 1970s in Paris and aims to tell the tumultuous and tragic story of the world’s greatest opera singer. The film features a talented cast, including Valeria Golino and Haluk Bilginer, and showcases Jolie’s transformation into the iconic diva.
As Jolie prepares for the film’s release, she hopes that her portrayal of Callas will resonate with audiences and shine a light on the complexities of the legendary singer’s life. The film is expected to be a significant contender in the upcoming awards season, further solidifying Jolie’s status as a leading actress in Hollywood.
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