As a longtime admirer of Angelina Jolie and her versatile acting prowess, witnessing her transformation into the legendary opera singer Maria Callas at AFI Fest was nothing short of breathtaking. Her dedication to the role, as evidenced by seven months of vocal training and immersion into Callas’ life, is truly commendable.
Following a fast-paced journey through the Venice, Telluride, and New York film events, Angelina Jolie and Pablo Larraín presented their movie titled “Maria” at the AFI Fest in Los Angeles on Saturday evening.
The project focuses on Maria Callas, a renowned yet tormented opera singer in 1970s Paris, as she struggles to regain her legendary voice that she had lost, much like Larraín’s previous works delved into the final periods of Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana.
During a post-movie discussion moderated by Barry Jenkins, Larraín expressed that “I believe there was no other choice, I don’t think this film would have been made if Angelina had declined.” He emphasized the need for an actor who could embody Callas’ larger-than-life diva persona and also demonstrated the dedication required to master opera singing.
Jolie confessed that when she was questioned about her singing ability, she mistakenly assumed it meant performing like an actor in a musical, promising to give it my all and do my best. However, she soon realized she didn’t grasp the concept of opera singing, describing the training process as an incredibly emotional, unique, and terrifying voyage.
Angelina Jolie arrives at the @AFIFEST premiere of #Maria
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 27, 2024
She shared with the crowd that there haven’t been many instances in her career where she’s been asked to pour everything she has into a project, and she considers this one of the most precious gifts, particularly for an artist, to have someone ask for and want you to give your all when you don’t know you’re capable of it. Angelina Jolie mentioned that she was able to feel afraid again as an artist, which is a great gift because fear pushes you to do things you’re unsure about, allowing you to amaze yourself. With Larraín directing, she felt secure enough to take risks and make mistakes, giving her the freedom to be creative.
Before the movie premiere, Jolie confided in The Hollywood Reporter that although she portrayed an opera legend, she doesn’t truly view herself as a singer, stating “I didn’t really consider myself a singer, but I managed this time.” Similar to her character, she admitted that taking on this role helped her rediscover her vocal abilities. She had never belted out songs in full voice before, and hadn’t received guidance on how to do it effectively, nor had she attempted it previously.
Angelina Jolie shares that she discovered a new artistic self-expression while working on the set of #Maria during the AFI FEST red carpet.
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 27, 2024
After completing seven months of vocal coaching and delving deep into Callas’ biography, Jolie admitted that she’s unsure if she has fully shed the character yet.
The actor mentioned that they’ve portrayed several real individuals in their career, and these people stay with them; it’s unlike any other roles. They explained, ‘She feels like my sister to me now, she’s someone I know very well, and I had to genuinely fall in love with her so others could empathize. To truly grasp her, I needed to ensure I was saying and doing the right things. As a result, her music will always resonate with me, and I might smile uniquely because of our bond.’
Maria will arrive in select theaters on Nov. 27 and start streaming on Netflix Dec. 11.
During an interview at the AFI FEST red carpet, Angelina Jolie shared that she found it difficult to say goodbye to her character Maria after wrapping up filming.
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) October 27, 2024
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2024-10-27 22:25