starring as the legendary opera singer Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s Maria, received an eight-minute standing ovation at the film’s premiere on August 29 at the Sala Grande Theater during the 2024 Venice Film Festival

At 49, Angelina Jolie became visibly emotional as she received an eight-minute standing ovation from the audience after the premiere of Maria at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. With tears in her eyes, the Academy Award-winning actress wiped them away as she exited the theater.

To portray Maria Callas, one of the greatest sopranos of all time, Jolie had to learn how to sing opera. Maria delves into Callas’s final days in Paris, battling an addiction to anti-anxiety drugs, while reflecting on the highs and lows of her storied career that captivated audiences worldwide with her extraordinary voice.

“This was the hardest, most challenging role I’ve ever taken on,” Jolie told Reuters before the film’s world premiere. “I felt like I was on another planet because it pushed me far beyond my comfort zone, both as a person and as an artist,” she added, recalling the scenes filmed at Milan’s iconic La Scala opera house.

With over 60 films to her name, ranging from blockbuster action movies to deeply emotional dramas, Jolie earned an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in the 1999 film Girl, Interrupted. Although she initially assured director Pablo Larraín that she could sing, she quickly realized she needed to reach an entirely new level, dedicating seven months to intensive vocal training. “I thought I could just sing like actors do in films, where you pretend or sing a little bit. But it became clear early on that I would need to truly learn to sing because you can’t fake opera,” she said.

Larraín noted that when Callas’s voice is heard at her prime in the film, 95% is sourced from her original recordings, but in the scenes depicting her later years, it is largely Jolie’s voice that comes through. “She took countless singing lessons, singing from morning to night. We were moved, even brought to tears during filming,” said Alba Rohrwacher, who portrays Callas’s devoted housekeeper.

Larraín, who grew up with a deep appreciation for opera, expressed hope that his latest film would rekindle interest in an art form that has lost much of its mainstream appeal since Callas’s death at just 53 in 1977. “We truly hope this movie inspires people to explore opera, whether it’s five, ten, or millions of people,” he said.

Known for his biopics Jackie and Spencer, which explored the lives of Jackie Kennedy and Princess Diana, Larraín has a history of focusing on strong women who left an indelible mark on history. Callas, one of the brightest stars of her time, spent her final years in isolation, abandoned by both her remarkable voice and her lover, Aristotle Onassis.

“I relate to her vulnerability,” Jolie reflected, subtly referencing her own turbulent personal life, including a bitter divorce from actor Brad Pitt, who is set to present his latest film at Venice later in the week, ensuring they avoid crossing paths in the city.

Larraín remarked on the tragic aura that surrounded Callas, noting that 90% of the operas she performed ended in death. “She gradually became the embodiment of the tragedies she portrayed on stage,” he said.

Maria is one of 21 films competing for the prestigious Golden Lion award at the Venice Film Festival, which runs until September 7.