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Angelina Jolie has embraced becoming an 'older woman'

Published 1 months ago on Sep 04, 2024

Angelina Jolie Embraces Aging and Reflects on New Role as Maria Callas.

Angelina Jolie, one of Hollywood's most iconic figures, is embracing her journey into becoming an "older woman" as she approaches her 50th birthday next year. In a candid interview with IndieWire, the 49-year-old actress, who stars as opera singer Maria Callas in the upcoming biographical drama Maria, shared her thoughts on aging and how the role resonates with her current life stage.

Jolie expressed that she feels her age now more than ever and has come to accept and embrace it. "I'm 49. I do feel like an older woman now, and I embrace that," she said. The actress, who continues to be embroiled in a painful custody battle with her ex-husband Brad Pitt, also spoke about the emotional depth that opera music has brought to her life, drawing a parallel between her personal experiences and the musical art form.

"When I was younger, there were certain pieces of music and certain sounds that matched what I was feeling: I was falling in love, or I was curious about this, or whatever I was going through," Jolie explained. She highlighted the unique power of opera, saying, "There is nothing that meets what you're feeling like opera. Some pieces are so beautiful, so full of hope and yearning. Opera is bigger. It is bigger than we allow ourselves to feel in every moment."

Interestingly, Jolie wasn't familiar with opera before taking on the role of Maria Callas. Growing up in Los Angeles, she explained that opera wasn't a significant part of her cultural upbringing. "I grew up in America. In other countries, they understand how essential and important it is, and it's much more a part of the culture, but not where I was raised," she said. However, her role in Maria has introduced her to this new art form, transforming her perspective and deepening her appreciation for the genre.

Jolie's preparation for the role was intense, involving months of opera and Italian language classes. At the Telluride Film Festival, she shared that she spent seven months training her voice to meet the demands of portraying the legendary soprano. "I had great teachers and a supportive team that were going to help me," she said, emphasizing the importance of not disappointing Callas's fans.

Jolie's dedication to the role extended beyond just learning to sing. She reflected on how she related to Callas, noting that the singer's soft and emotionally open nature was something she connected with on a personal level. During a panel at the Venice Film Festival, Jolie revealed that despite her public persona, she shares a similar softness with Callas. "I think the way I related to her may be a surprise — probably the part of her that's extremely soft," Jolie said. "She doesn't have room in the world to be as soft as she truly was, and as emotionally open as she truly was."

This emotional depth was evident during the Venice Film Festival, where Jolie received an eight-minute standing ovation for her portrayal of Callas. The actress was seen wiping away tears as the applause continued, a testament to the emotional impact of her performance and the connection she felt with the role.

In addition to discussing her character, Jolie also addressed the term "diva," which has often been associated with Callas. Jolie acknowledged that the word has historically carried negative connotations but expressed a renewed understanding of it through her portrayal of the opera star. "I think I've re-learned that word through Maria... and I have a new relationship to it," she said. Jolie emphasized that a woman's identity should not be solely defined by others' perceptions, adding, "I think it is often other people's perception of a woman that defines, sometimes too much, who she is and who she was, or what she intended."

Jolie's performance in Maria has already garnered significant attention, with Netflix acquiring the rights to the film. However, a release date has yet to be announced. As anticipation builds, Jolie's portrayal of Callas is poised to offer audiences a nuanced and deeply felt interpretation of one of opera's most iconic figures.

Reflecting on her preparation for the role, Jolie recounted a particularly nerve-wracking moment during her training. At the Venice Film Festival, she shared that her sons played a crucial role in helping her overcome her initial fears. "My first time singing I was so nervous that my sons were there and they helped to block the door so that nobody else was coming in," she said. "I was shaky. Pablo [Larraín, the director] in his decency started me in a small room and ended me in La Scala. So he gave me time to grow. I was frightened to live up to her and you know I had not sung in public."

Maria focuses on the later years of Callas's life, depicting the challenges she faced as her voice began to fade. The opera legend, who passed away in 1977 at the age of 53, remains a revered figure in the world of classical music. Jolie's commitment to authentically portraying Callas's struggles and triumphs is expected to resonate deeply with audiences when the film finally premieres.

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