Angelina Jolie is embarking on a new phase in her acting career, seeking greater significance and opportunities as she approaches her fiftieth birthday. In an interview with The Sunday Times, the Academy Award-winning actress discussed her new role as opera diva Maria Callas in the upcoming Netflix film Maria. Jolie’s act challenges aging preconceptions in the entertainment sector.
The film, directed by Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín and scripted by Steven Knight, focuses on Callas’s final days in Paris. It provides an intimate glimpse at the renowned soprano as she deals with loneliness, identity, and her complex public legacy. Maria, which premiered at the Venice Film Festival to a 10-minute standing ovation, has already received accolades for Jolie’s transforming performance.
Jolie reflected on her career, stating that her work had improved with age. “I’ve gotten better work as I’ve gotten older,” she explained, adding that her success is due to more than just the availability of roles. She also addressed the challenges that performers confront as they age. “Aging is easier for actors than singers or dancers because your body doesn’t change,” she said, praising Callas’ dedication to her work despite personal difficulties.
Jolie said she felt emotionally linked to Callas’ sensitivity and humanity, which influenced her life and art. “Maria is vulnerable because she feels and isn’t sometimes able to protect herself from loneliness or emotional pain,” she said. It’s part of her life and work to be extremely human and live that way.” This emotional depth, Jolie feels, fosters a strong link between performers and their viewers.
Maria is the third film in Larraín’s series about great women, after Spencer (about Princess Diana) and Jackie (about Jackie Kennedy). Jolie’s portrayal of Callas, who died in 1977 at 53, has already received critical acclaim. Early assessments commend her ability to capture the great soprano’s delicacy and honesty.
The film will be released in select cinemas and streamed on Netflix beginning December 6. With Maria, Jolie continues challenging preconceptions, demonstrating that age can bring fresh depth and opportunity to Hollywood talents.
