Angelina Jolie’s transformation into opera legend Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s biopic Maria marks a profound chapter in her appearing profession. Launched in theaters earlier than its Netflix debut on December 11, the movie delves into Callas’s closing days, portraying her wrestle with isolation, misplaced expertise, and the load of her public persona. Jolie’s riveting efficiency has already sparked awards buzz, with many calling it her most commanding position in over a decade.
Making ready for the position was no small feat for Jolie, who revealed that embodying Callas required her to “discover ways to breathe once more.”
Reflecting on the method, she shared, “All of us, we actually don’t notice the place issues land in our physique over a lifetime of various experiences and the place we maintain it to guard ourselves. We maintain it in our stomachs. We maintain it in our chest. We breathe from a distinct place after we’re nervous or we’re unhappy. The primary few weeks have been the toughest as a result of my physique needed to open, and I needed to breathe once more. And that was a discovery of how a lot I wasn’t.”
The problem of portraying the tragic opera singer unearthed feelings inside Jolie that even she hadn’t totally confronted. Set primarily in Callas’s Paris condo, the movie explores her solitude and the complexities of her identification as a celebrated artist struggling to reconcile “Callas” with “Maria.”
Screenwriter Steven Knight weaves poignant dialogue into the narrative, together with a line Jolie says she deeply pertains to: “I took liberties all my life, and the world took liberties with me.”
When requested if the road resonated, Jolie admitted, “Yeah, yeah.” After a considerate pause, she added, “I do know she was a public particular person as a result of she beloved her work. And I’m a public particular person as a result of I like my work, not as a result of I like being public. I feel some persons are extra comfy with a public life, and I’ve by no means been totally comfy with it.”
For Jolie, the position got here at a pivotal second. Having spent years directing movies and prioritizing her six kids, she labored sparingly during the last eight years. “My decisions for fairly just a few years have been no matter was good financially and brief. I labored little or no,” she mentioned.
Her return to appearing with Maria not solely marks knowledgeable resurgence but in addition a deeply private journey. Her two eldest kids, Maddox and Pax, labored on the set, witnessing an emotional facet of their mom they hadn’t seen earlier than.
“That they had definitely seen me unhappy in my life. However I don’t cry in entrance of my kids like that,” Jolie mentioned, describing how Callas’s story dredged up buried ache. Whereas Jolie avoided discussing her ongoing divorce from Brad Pitt, it’s evident that her private struggles knowledgeable her portrayal of the opera icon.
Director Pablo Larraín, identified for biographical dramas like Jackie and Spencer, handpicked Jolie for the position, believing she embodied the magnetism and enigmatic spirit of Callas. “The enigmatic diva that’s come to a degree in her life the place she has to take management of her life once more. However the weight of her expertise, of her music, of her singing, every thing, is on her again. And she or he carries that,” Larraín mentioned.
The Chilean filmmaker grew up enchanted by opera, and his fascination with Callas stems from her near-perfect but fragile voice. “I hear one thing close to perfection, however on the similar time, it’s one thing that’s about to be destroyed,” Larraín defined.
Jolie additionally discovered parallels between herself and Callas. “There’s a loneliness that we each share. That’s not essentially a foul factor. I feel individuals may be alone and lonely generally, and that may be a part of who they’re,” she mirrored.
As Maria positive factors important acclaim, it might not solely redefine Callas’s legacy but in addition function a defining second in Jolie’s profession. A 3rd Oscar nomination for Jolie appears inside attain, cementing her place as a performer able to channeling profound vulnerability and energy.
