Angelina Jolie Admits Training for Nearly Seven Months to Sing in ‘Maria’: ‘Terribly Nervous’ and Had Never Sung Publicly
Angelina Jolie opened up about her rigorous preparation for her role as opera legend Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s upcoming film Maria, during a press conference at the Venice Film Festival. Jolie revealed that she spent nearly seven months preparing for the role, underscoring the dedication required for the portrayal.
Maria marks a reunion between Larraín and writer Steven Knight, whose previous collaboration, Spencer, was showcased at Venice in 2021. The film explores the tumultuous, beautiful, and tragic final days of the world’s greatest opera singer in 1970s Paris.
“I was terribly nervous,” Jolie admitted when discussing her opera training. “I spent almost seven months training because when you work with Pablo, you can’t do anything by half. He demands, in the most wonderful way, that you really do the work and you really learn and train.”
Jolie’s preparation was extensive, as she had no prior experience singing publicly before taking on this role. The pressure was palpable, especially during the scenes filmed at Paris’ La Scala theater. “My first time singing, I remember being so nervous. My sons were there and they helped lock the door so that nobody else was coming in, and I was shaky,” she recalled. “Pablo, in his decency, started me in a small room and ended me in La Scala. So he gave me time to grow.”
When asked about potential Oscar buzz for Maria, Jolie focused on her primary concern: honoring Callas’ legacy and her fans. “My fear would be to disappoint them,” Jolie said. “If there’s a response to the work, I’m very grateful, but … I really came to care for her, so I didn’t want to do a disservice to this woman.”
Larraín, for his part, emphasized that the film’s aim was not to present a dark depiction of Callas’ life. Instead, he sought to portray her as a woman who, after dedicating her life to singing for others and managing her relationships, was finally ready to take care of herself and find her own path. “I didn’t want to make a dark movie about a tragic situation,” Larraín said. “I wanted to make a film about a woman who spent her life singing for others, taking care of others, worrying about her relationships — now she’s ready to take care of herself and find her own destiny.”
The cast of Maria includes Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Stephen Ashfield, and Valeria Golino, alongside Jolie. The film’s exploration of Callas’ final days promises to offer a fresh perspective on the iconic soprano’s life and career.
Netflix has secured the U.S. distribution rights for Maria, but the release date for the film has not yet been announced. The film’s journey from Venice to a wider audience will be closely watched, particularly given the high expectations surrounding Jolie’s portrayal and Larraín’s directorial vision.
