Angelina Jolie recently dismissed what she called an “insane question” during an interview promoting her highly anticipated Netflix film, Maria.
The Academy Award-winning actress has spent recent years behind the camera directing, but her latest project sees her stepping back in front of the lens. In Maria, Jolie portrays Maria Callas, the celebrated opera singer whose name remains synonymous with excellence in 20th-century music.
The film is scheduled for release on Netflix in the United States on December 11, while audiences in the United Kingdom and Ireland can catch it in cinemas starting January 10. Speaking with The Times, Jolie reflected on the challenges of taking on such a demanding role, admitting that embodying Callas was “daunting.”
“Singing opera requires you to be as emotionally open as you possibly can be — it’s not like singing in the car,” Jolie explained. “It’s cathartic. I’ve never pushed myself or opened myself up in that way, that was daunting.”
Jolie also shared her connection to the emotional depth required for the role. As a public figure, she found parallels between her life and that of Callas, particularly in their shared vulnerability.
“I’m a hard worker and a deeply feeling person,” Jolie noted. “Maria is vulnerable because she feels and isn’t sometimes able to protect herself from the loneliness or emotional pain. It’s part of her life and work to be extremely human and live that way. You live through your communication with the audience. For Maria and for me, that has always been extremely important.”
Despite these similarities, Jolie also acknowledged significant differences between herself and Callas.
“Maria didn’t have a family, so her work was everything,” she said. “My work is not everything. Being a parent is everything.”
During the interview, Jolie’s storied career prompted a question about the possibility of Maria director Pablo Larraín one day creating a biopic about her own life. Jolie, however, was quick to shut down the idea, laughing as she declared: “That gets the most insane question award.”
The actress elaborated on her unease with such a concept, pointing out the difficulties of portraying someone’s life on screen. “When you’re a public person and you’re playing [someone else], you’re conscious of how you would hate for somebody to interpret your life or think they understand your life,” she explained. “So we tried to be thoughtful. Let’s hope there isn’t one about my life.”
Director Pablo Larraín also emphasized the respectful approach taken in bringing Callas’s story to life. “She was a strong woman at a time when that wasn’t really tolerated,” he shared. “She was stoic and strong. She was betrayed, but she always stood on her own two feet, trying to do her art until she couldn’t.”
Jolie’s portrayal of Maria Callas is expected to offer a deeply nuanced performance that honors the complexity and humanity of the opera legend while reflecting the actress’s own dedication to her craft. Fans eagerly await the release of Maria to witness Jolie’s return to the screen in this powerful role.