Angelina Jolie is back with a new film, which marks her return to the big screen after nearly a decade. In Maria, the 49-year-old actress returns to portray opera icon Maria Callas, which marks Jolie’s first major film appearance following her decision to undergo a bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and breast reconstruction in 2013 due to her BRCA1 gene mutation and elevated risk of breast cancer.
Two years later, in a New York Times op-ed, Jolie revealed she underwent a laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, which is the removal of both ovaries and fallopian tubes. Since then, Jolie has been selective in choosing her projects. Her portrayal of Callas—a woman both celebrated and haunted by the public’s expectations—was a role that resonated deeply with the actress, not just for the similarities they share as public figures, but also because of Callas’ struggle with the pressure to perform.
Making a character’s pain personal
“It was so intense,” Jolie told The Hollywood Reporter, reflecting on her time portraying the legendary soprano. “I stepped away and I haven’t sung or talked about her since…but this one really kind of took me.” Jolie, who is known for fully immersing herself in her roles, admitted that the project struck a personal chord. “I’m making her pain personal to me, and that is certainly very private.”
Jolie’s process in preparing for the role involved months of intense singing and Italian lessons, along with mastering the nuances of Callas’ voice. Singing opera required Jolie to unlock emotions she hadn’t fully accessed in years.
“You discover how much we lock our pain in our bodies,” she shared, describing how singing with her full body evoked an overwhelming emotional release. For Jolie, it was a reminder of the toll that performance can take on one’s soul, something she believes Callas experienced firsthand.
The demands of a high-profile career
The film highlights the pressures Callas faced as the world demanded more from her, even as she grappled with personal trauma. Jolie emphasized how aggressive the public could be when Callas was unable to meet their expectations. “They were very unkind, and she carried a lot of trauma.” For Jolie, it became essential to bring this side of Callas’ story to light.
Jolie is well-acquainted with the media’s scrutiny of her personal life, particularly following her high-profile separation from actor Brad Pitt. In 2016, after a decade together and two years of marriage, Jolie filed for divorce, thrusting their relationship into the public eye even further and sparking widespread media attention. However, Jolie is no stranger to balancing her work with her personal life, especially motherhood. Having been a parent for over two decades, she credits her children with grounding her amidst the demands of her career.
“You are not the center of your life,” she said. “That’s your real life. Your real world.” Jolie, whose sons Maddox and Pax accompanied her on set during filming, found solace in their presence during the most emotionally charged scenes.
Finding strength in shared experiences With the public
Reflecting on her public persona, Jolie noted that one of the rare benefits of being a public figure is the ability to connect with others over shared experiences.
“It’s one of the nicest things—maybe the only nice thing—about being a public person, your connection with other people,” she said.
Jolie acknowledged that her earlier roles, like in Gia or Girl, Interrupted, helped her express her “madness and pain,” and when people connected with that, she felt less alone. “If somebody were to talk to me about having gone through breast cancer or losing their parent, then I feel more deeply connected with another human being.”
Her portrayal of Callas represents more than just a return to acting—it is a personal journey of reconnecting with her emotions and embracing the full depth of her craft. As she continues to navigate her role as both an artist and a mother, this performance stands as a testament to her resilience and her ability to find herself within the characters she brings to life on screen.
“To be honest, it would be nice to just do something, maybe a little lighter. So my children can hear me laugh a little more,” Jolie says. “As an artist, there’s a part of me that thinks I would like to find a way to do something that would make people smile.”