Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek’s network of contributors
Angelina Jolies new movie Maria gets a lot of buzz. The film, inspired by the life of opera singer Maria Calla, premiered on Thursday, August 29 at Venice Film Festival. After the premiere, Jolie, 49, who plays the film’s namesake, received a standing ovation that brought her to tears.
The standing ovation lasted for eight minutes, during which Jolie was visibly emotional, at times, covering her face with her hand. As she approached the stage for a post-film interview, the film’s director, Pablo Larraín, helped her up the stairs.
Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images
Before Mary, Jolie hadn’t had a lead role in a movie since the 2021s Eternal. In an interview with The Hollywood ReporterJolie explained that she was taking a break to spend more time with her children. She was inspired to return to acting because she was drawn to the story of Callas, as the singer’s pain felt “personal” to her.
To prepare for the role, Jolie said she took opera classes and Italian lessons to help her channel Callas even further.
“I would recommend almost any person to take an opera class,” Jolie said. “To exist and never have sung with your whole body as loud as you can possibly sing – that’s something I think we should all feel. It’s scary, and it’s rarely asked of us. It’s rarely asked of us in life to be all that. we can be or feel all that we feel.”
The film comes amid the Jolies divorce from brad pittas well as her 20-year-old son, Pax electric bike accident.
Maria has already received rave reviews from critics attending the Venice Film Festival, with The Independent calling it a career-defining performance from Jolie, and New York Times says Jolie is ready for a “The Oscars comeback.”
Maria will be available to stream on Netflix later this year.