Angelina Jolie has rarely shared personal insights about her life, but during a recent interview with BBC News, she offered an intimate look into her latest project—a biopic titled 'Maria', where she plays the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. The two eldest of her six children, Maddox and Pax, took on roles as production assistants for the film, witnessing their mother express emotional pain that she typically shields from them.
In the interview, Jolie explained that portraying Callas allowed her sons to observe her vulnerability, stating, "They were there to witness some of that, but then we would hug or they would bring me cups of tea." This experience became an opportunity for Jolie to be more open with her children about her emotions.
Written by Steven Knight, 'Maria' focuses on Callas's poignant final years in the 1970s while living in Paris. Jolie’s performance has led to speculation regarding a potential Oscar nomination. Callas, a Greek soprano, was renowned for her powerful voice and dramatic performances, and in the film, Jolie combines her own vocals with original recordings of Callas.
Jolie underwent rigorous training to learn opera, committing to seven months of classes to prepare for the physically demanding role. Describing the experience as challenging yet rewarding, she noted the importance of support from the crew in pursuing something entirely new for her acting career.
Her sons have been involved in several of her productions before, and their presence on set during 'Maria' was warmly recounted by director Pablo Larraín, who praised their professionalism. Jolie noted with a chuckle how Pax recorded her early attempts at singing, highlighting the positive lesson for her children in witnessing her struggle and perseverance.
The film is part of Larraín's trilogy focused on complex female figures, following his portrayals of Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana. While critics have had mixed reactions to the film overall, Jolie's performance has been described as "spellbinding" and "transcendent," indicating that she may have successfully captured the essence of Callas.
The film aims to bring greater awareness to the world of opera, an art form that connects deeply with emotions, as both Jolie and Larraín emphasized. Jolie remarked, "I don't know if there is an art form as strong as opera... It's for everybody." 'Maria' is set to premiere in UK cinemas on 10 January, marking a significant moment in Jolie’s acting journey.
In the interview, Jolie explained that portraying Callas allowed her sons to observe her vulnerability, stating, "They were there to witness some of that, but then we would hug or they would bring me cups of tea." This experience became an opportunity for Jolie to be more open with her children about her emotions.
Written by Steven Knight, 'Maria' focuses on Callas's poignant final years in the 1970s while living in Paris. Jolie’s performance has led to speculation regarding a potential Oscar nomination. Callas, a Greek soprano, was renowned for her powerful voice and dramatic performances, and in the film, Jolie combines her own vocals with original recordings of Callas.
Jolie underwent rigorous training to learn opera, committing to seven months of classes to prepare for the physically demanding role. Describing the experience as challenging yet rewarding, she noted the importance of support from the crew in pursuing something entirely new for her acting career.
Her sons have been involved in several of her productions before, and their presence on set during 'Maria' was warmly recounted by director Pablo Larraín, who praised their professionalism. Jolie noted with a chuckle how Pax recorded her early attempts at singing, highlighting the positive lesson for her children in witnessing her struggle and perseverance.
The film is part of Larraín's trilogy focused on complex female figures, following his portrayals of Jacqueline Kennedy and Princess Diana. While critics have had mixed reactions to the film overall, Jolie's performance has been described as "spellbinding" and "transcendent," indicating that she may have successfully captured the essence of Callas.
The film aims to bring greater awareness to the world of opera, an art form that connects deeply with emotions, as both Jolie and Larraín emphasized. Jolie remarked, "I don't know if there is an art form as strong as opera... It's for everybody." 'Maria' is set to premiere in UK cinemas on 10 January, marking a significant moment in Jolie’s acting journey.
