Angelina Jolie, who portrays the late opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s film Maria, received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival on August 29.
During the premiere at the Sala Grande Theater, the 49-year-old actress became emotional and wiped away tears as the audience applauded.
To prepare for her role, Jolie, an Academy Award-winning actor, learned to sing opera, reflecting the life of Callas, one of history’s greatest sopranos. The film Maria explores Callas’s final days in Paris, struggling with addiction to anti-anxiety medications, and revisits her tumultuous yet celebrated past.
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Moreover, Jolie described the role as the most challenging of her career, pushing her beyond her comfort zone both personally and artistically. She initially believed she could sing as actors do in films but quickly realized she needed to genuinely learn opera singing, dedicating seven months to intensive training.
Director Larraín revealed that the film features Callas’s original recordings for her prime, but Jolie’s voice is used for scenes depicting the singer’s later years. Co-star Alba Rohrwacher praised Jolie’s dedication to mastering opera, sharing that the cast and crew were moved to tears during filming.
Maria is one of 21 films competing for the Golden Lion award at the festival, which continues until September 7.
