VENICE, Italy (AP) 鈥� For Angelina Jolie, portraying the famed opera singer Maria Callas meant more to her than she can put into words.
鈥淚 felt such a privilege to feel like I got to know this woman and got to be inside her skin a moment. I really care for her deeply,鈥� Jolie told The Associated Press a few hours the film鈥檚 world premiere at the Thursday. 鈥淚 think I鈥檒l carry that like a friend鈥�
Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larra铆n called on Jolie to take on the role as the legendary soprano in 鈥淢aria,鈥� which was recently acquired by Netflix for distribution. The film focuses on the final week of her life in 1977, in Paris.
Larra铆n, a Venice regular, continues to explore the lives of very famous women with tragic narratives attached to them. In 2016, he came to the festival with his Jackie Kennedy portrait, 鈥淛ackie,鈥� starring Natalie Portman as the first lady in the aftermath of her husband鈥檚 assassination. In 2021 he returned with Kristen Stewart playing Princess Diana as she considered divorce over the Christmas holiday in 鈥淪pencer.鈥� Both films earned their leads best actress nominations.
鈥淢aria鈥� is the so-called conclusion to this trilogy of historical women, though Callas may be a bit less known to younger generations who weren鈥檛 around for the headlines and scandals. Born Maria Kalogeropoulos to Greek parents in New York, the singer made her professional debut in Athens as a 17-year-old.
During her brief life she became one of the greatest opera singers of all time with her unparalleled voice and stage presence. But the accolades also came with the intense scrutiny of her life in the public eye, whether it was her exacting demands and 鈥渄iva鈥� behavior, her weight or her romantic life. Callas famously had a relationship with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis who left her for Jackie Kennedy.
She died in Paris at age 53 after a heart attack.
鈥淲hen I put her big glasses on and her Greek hair and I sat in my little robe as an older lady, I felt a (Maria) that felt like the private (Maria) that the world didn鈥檛 know,鈥� Jolie said. 鈥淎nd I connected to her first and, and kind of loved her.鈥�
Jolie made a grand entrance on the docks of the Hotel Excelsior, on the Lido, posing for photographers in a drapey brown dress with hair long and loose.
She was reluctant to compare fame in Callas鈥� time to the present moment.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 live then. I guess hard in different ways, easy in different ways,鈥� Jolie said. 鈥淪he was celebrated as one of the most wonderful artists and she also had food thrown at her and insulted and lied about. So I don鈥檛 know. She must have felt... she must have felt very alone.鈥�
trained for six months to prepare for the role. The singing in the film is a blend of actor and the real thing.
鈥淚 trained for months, but my first days, (Larra铆n) was very good to me in that we started in a more intimate first with very few crew members,鈥� Jolie said. 鈥淎nd we ended at La Scala with everyone. So I had a little time to get my nerve. But this is the hardest thing I鈥檝e ever done. I was terrified.鈥�
Jolie has twice been nominated for acting Oscars. She won for her supporting role in 鈥淕irl, Interrupted,鈥� and was last nominated for her leading role in Clint Eastwood鈥檚 鈥淐hangeling.鈥�
The actor is also expected to depart Venice arrives for the premiere of his film 鈥淲olfs鈥� on Sunday. Though legally single since 2019, they are still fighting over issues like custody, finances and a winery in France.
鈥淢aria鈥� is among the 21 features which will be announced on Sept. 7.
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For more coverage of the 2024 Venice Film Festival, visit .
Lindsey Bahr And Louise Dixon, The Associated Press
