Angelina Jolie’s Journey to Play Maria Callas in Pablo Larrain’s Film

Angelina Jolie recently spoke at a press conference about her upcoming film Maria, in which she plays the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. Jolie received training for seven months and used recordings of Callas’ teaching to prepare for the role. She said, “When you work with Pablo you can’t do anything by half. He demands in a most wonderful way that you really do the work, and you learn and train.”

For Jolie, playing Callas required a significant amount of dedication and hard work. She said, “My first time singing, I remember being so nervous. My sons were there, and they helped to block the door so that nobody else was coming in. I was shaky, and Pablo in his decency started me in a small room, and ended me in La Scala. He gave me time to grow. I was frightened to live up to her.”

Jolie talked about her understanding of the term “diva” and how it has a negative connotation for many people. She explained, “It has often come with a lot of negative connotations. I’ve relearnt the word through Maria and ‘Casta Diva’ [a song from Vincenzo Bellini’s 1831 opera Norma].” She believes that a “diva” is someone who is incredibly good at what they do, and that “being a perfectionist, being someone really tough and disciplined, can create the sensation in others – Maria Callas would go to a rehearsal, and if any of the other singers would miss one word, she would leave. Then she became, among other things, ‘a diva’.”

Jolie hopes that Maria will encourage people to explore opera and experience its emotional intensity. She said, “When you’ve felt a certain level of despair, of pain, of love – at a certain point there’s only certain sounds that can match that feeling. To me, the immensity of the feeling encapsulated within the sounds of opera, there is nothing like it.”

The film was acquired by Netflix for US distribution and has its world premiere today (August 29) on the Lido.

Karaoke

In a lighter moment, Jolie was asked about her go-to karaoke song. She jokingly replied, “I didn’t sing before this, so I haven’t done karaoke – but now maybe? Now maybe I’ve got a few, I’m ready,” laughed Jolie.

Diva Connotations

Responding to a question from Screen about her understanding of the word ‘diva’, Jolie said “It has often come with a lot of negative connotations. I’ve relearnt the word through Maria and ‘Casta Diva’ [a song from Vincenzo Bellini’s 1831 opera Norma].”

Conclusions:

Angelina Jolie has taken on a new challenge by portraying legendary opera singer Maria Callas in a recent film. Through rigorous training and devotion to the role, Jolie has risen to the task of bringing Callas’ story to life on the big screen.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Q: Is Angelina Jolie a diva?
A: Angelina Jolie does not fit the traditional mold of what a “diva” is. She recognizes the term’s negative connotation and instead defines it as someone incredibly good at what they do.

Q: Was Jolie nervous about singing Callas’ songs?
A: Yes, Jolie was initially nervous about singing Callas’ songs. She recalled feeling particularly nervous during her first singing attempts, but Pablo Larrain encouraged her to learn and grow.

Q: Will Jolie continue her music career?
A: In the light-hearted moment after the press conference, Jolie stated that she has gained a few music skills during the film’s shoot but does not plan to continue her music career specifically.