Angelina Jolie is counting on her portrayal in the forthcoming biopic Maria to serve as the breakthrough that revives her former standing as a box office sensation, a reputation that took a hit despite her drawn-out divorce battle with Brad Pitt.
The Hollywood star, often depicted as a contemporary diva, is set to embody the iconic opera singer Maria Callas in a role many believe she was destined to play.
“This could be the defining role of her career,” said one Hollywood insider. “She’s stepping into the shoes of a woman who had the same glamorous allure she once possessed, and this film could be her ticket back to the top.”
Jolie underwent intense vocal training, spending nearly seven months preparing to sing like the opera legend
Callas, a famed opera diva of the 1960s and 1970s, was known for her fiery temperament, extravagant lifestyle, and her high-profile romance with Aristotle Onassis, the billionaire and former husband of Jacqueline Kennedy.
Known for her luxurious fashion choices, Callas often sported opulent gowns and furs and had a unique pre-performance ritual of drinking Fernet-Branca mixed with mint leaves to warm her voice—a habit that Jolie, now 49, reenacts in the movie.
The drink was said to enhance Callas’ powerful voice, enabling her to attract audiences. It’s even rumored that this routine inspired the creation of Brancamenta, a mint-flavored variation of the original.
Jolie fully immersed herself in the role, undergoing intense vocal training to sing like the opera legend. “I was really nervous,” Jolie admitted about learning to sing opera. “I spent almost seven months preparing.”
Addressing Maria’s notorious diva persona during a Film Festival press conference, Jolie expressed, “I think the word ‘diva’ often has negative associations. But through Maria, I’ve come to see it differently and developed a new understanding of it.”
Her powerful performance resonated so deeply that the film received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. “This role is incredibly meaningful to Angie,” a source shared. “Maria represented the elegance and excellence that Angie once embodied and hopes to recapture.”
Jolie concluded, “I feel like I connect most with her vulnerability.”
