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Angelina Jolie is already garnering award buzz for her portrayal of renowned opera singer Maria Callas in the biopic Maria, but behind the scenes, preparing for the role led to an unexpected breakthrough for the actress.
In a new interview with The Times, Jolie, 49, revealed she undertook seven months of singing lessons in order to embody Callas authentically.
"It was the therapy I didn't realize I needed," shared the Oscar winner, who has been feuding with ex-husband Brad Pitt, 60, in court since she filed for divorce in 2016. "Singing opera requires you to be as emotionally open as you possibly can be — it's not like singing in the car."
Describing the experience as "cathartic," Jolie said she really forced herself out of her comfort zone while making Maria, her first onscreen acting role since she played Thena in the 2021 Marvel Cinematic Universe movie Eternals. "I've never pushed myself or opened myself up in that way, that was daunting."
Jolie also has explained she felt a personal connection with American-Greek soprano Callas since they both share a "certain loneliness" and strong "work ethic."
"I may be many things, but I'm a very hard worker, right? I'm an imperfect person, but I work very hard and she does," Jolie recently told People, declining to delve further into the connection, which she called "too personal."
While Jolie has memorialized Maria's turbulent story onscreen, she laughed off what would result if Pablo Larraín — the movie's 48-year-old director, who is also known for biopics like Jackie (about Jackie Kennedy Onassis) and Spencer (focusing on Princess Diana) — gave her life the same star treatment.
"That gets the most insane question award," Jolie quipped to The Times. "When you're a public person and you're playing her, you're conscious of how you would hate for somebody to interpret your life or think they understand your life, so we tried to be thoughtful. Let's hope there isn't one about my life."
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