Angelina Jolie Remembers Being ‘Terribly Nervous’ To Make Her Singing Debut In Maria, Reveals How Her Sons Supported Her

As a lifelong admirer and student of the arts, I must say that Angelina Jolie‘s transformation into the operatic soprano Maria Callas has left me absolutely spellbound! Having spent years in the entertainment industry myself, I can only imagine the nerves and apprehension that come with taking on such an iconic role.


At the Venice Film Festival, Angelina Jolie left spectators amazed with a sneak peek of her upcoming movie, titled Maria. In an interview prior to the film’s showing on Thursday, August 29, the renowned actress shared insights about her journey in portraying the famed operatic soprano, Maria Callas. She acknowledged that she could feel quite anxious but managed to push past this by gathering support from friends and relatives.

Jolie, aged 49, admitted she felt trembly due to the long preparation which spanned almost seven months. In response to a question about her first singing session, Wema confessed that she was unsteady and needed her sons to stay close by the door to prevent any unexpected visitors.

49-year-old Jolie shared, “I was incredibly anxious; I dedicated nearly seven months to preparation,” she explained. “During my first performance, I recall being extremely nervous. My sons were present, and they stood guard at the door to prevent anyone else from entering. I was trembling with anticipation.”

Apart from that, she mentioned how director Pablo Larraín initially had her start in a humble setting and eventually led her to perform at La Scala. She went on to say, “[Pablo Larraín] guided me from a small stage to the grandeur of La Scala,” she expressed. “This allowed me the chance to mature. I was apprehensive about living up to [Callas].”

When asked about her favorite song for both personal singing and karaoke, she laughed, “Since I hadn’t sung before the release of this movie, I’ve never tried karaoke. But now, perhaps I might have a couple of songs to sing!”

Maria provides a comprehensive narrative about the private life and crucial events experienced by one of the iconic opera singers, Maria Callas. Once more, director Pablo Larraín, known for his biographical films like Spencer starring Kristen Stewart and Jackie featuring Natalie Portman, is preparing to portray the remarkable odyssey of Callas, with Angelina Jolie taking on the lead role.

48-year-old Larraín expressed his delight in contributing to the project and mentioned that he hopes Maria can share Callas’ extraordinary tale with audiences worldwide. He credited a compelling script by Steven Knight, dedication from the cast and crew members, and Jolie’s fervor and enthusiasm for bringing this film to life.

As a passionate admirer and filmmaker, I am thrilled beyond words to embark on the journey of bringing Maria Callas’ exceptional life and artistry to global audiences through our upcoming production, Maria. The outstanding script penned by Steven Knight, the tireless efforts of our entire cast and crew, and above all, Angelina’s masterful performance and meticulous preparation have my heart racing with anticipation. This is a project I hold close to my heart, and I can’t wait for the world to witness it.

Maria will be the one who marks Angelina Jolie’s comeback to the silver screen since her last role in 2021’s blockbuster film Eternals. Earlier this year, Jolie shared her excitement about the production of the superhero movie and even spoke about it with her kids. In an interview with Vogue magazine in September 2023, she mentioned that she was going through a period of change and felt somewhat adrift, confessing that she hadn’t felt like an ordinary person for quite some time.

At a press conference held in Venice on Thursday, she expressed that she’s likely to invest more hours with her family presently, yet she’s appreciative for the experience of being part of the creative process. In essence, she conveyed that over the past few years she has been spending more time at home, and during this period, she has become increasingly grateful for being a part of this line of work.

The Venice Film Festival is scheduled from August 28 through September 7.

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2024-08-30 09:23