Oscar-winning actress, Angelina Jolie, famous for her role as “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider,” has arrived in Greece for the filming of a new biopic about the tumultuous life of Maria Callas, one of the 20th century’s most renowned and influential opera singers.
Jolie, who won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in “Girl, Interrupted” (1999), was spotted last weekend in Pyrgos, in the Peloponnese, before being taken to the picturesque coastal town of Katakolo, where the superyacht, “Christina O,” was moored. The Tomb Raider star was later seen boarding the famous yacht wearing a glamorous blue satin robe – a replica of one of Callas’ most iconic outfits – and sporting a 1950s hairstyle.
The highly anticipated film, directed by Pablo Larrain, will feature some of Callas’ real clothes, including vintage fur items from renowned designer Massimo Cantini Parrini’s archive collection. Speaking earlier to the UK’s Daily Mail, the director, who is best known for the biopic films “Jackie,” about Jackie Kennedy, played by Natalie Portman, and “Spencer,” about the life of Princess Diana, played by Kristen Stewart, said: “Having the chance to combine my two most deep and personal passions, cinema and opera, has been a long-awaited dream.”
First look at Angelina Jolie in Pablo Larraín’s next biopic about iconic opera singer Maria Callas. pic.twitter.com/0eYKz1izS1
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) October 9, 2023
The film “Maria,” written by British screenwriter Steven Knight, the creator of the hit BBC series, “Peaky Blinders,” will focus on the last years of Callas’ life, and her tempestuous relationship with the Greek shipping tycoon, Aristotle Onassis.
Jolie is no stranger to biopics. In 1998, she starred as tragic supermodel Gia Carangi in “Gia,” and as French journalist Mariane Pearl in the 2007 film, “A Mighty Heart.” Known for her versatility, she is widely regarded as one of Hollywood’s leading actresses. Beyond acting, Jolie has ventured into writing and directing (“In the Land of Blood and Honey” 2011, “Unbroken,” 2014, and “First They Killed My Father,” 2017) and humanitarian work, most notably on behalf of refugees and women’s rights.
Starring alongside Jolie in “Maria” are actors Valeria Golino, Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.
Filming is also scheduled to take place in Paris, where Callas died in 1977, Budapest, and Milan.
Greek Icon
Born in New York City to Greek parents, Maria Callas’ career spanned from the 1940s to the early 1970s, leaving an indelible mark on the world of opera. She was celebrated for her extraordinary soprano voice, characterized by its range, power and emotional depth. Her repertoire included iconic roles in operas by Verdi, Puccini, and Bellini.
Despite her vocal prowess, Callas faced personal and professional challenges, including her relationship with Onassis, one of the 20th century’s richest men. Nevertheless, her contributions to the world of opera earned her a place in history as one of the greatest sopranos of all time, and her recordings continue to captivate and inspire opera enthusiasts worldwide.
