Angelina Jolie Method Acts As Maria Callas in New Film

On November 27th, Pablo Larraín’s new movie Maria starring Angelina Jolie was released in theatres. The Hollywood superstar took voice lessons and learned Callas’ signature arias when preparing for the role.

Driving the news: Hollywood superstar Angelina Jolie made news this week when she visited New York’s Metropolitan Opera. Jolie’s visit was part of the press tour for her role as Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s eponymous new film, which was released in theatres November 27th and comes to Netflix on December 11th. Accompanied by New York Times writer Javier C. Hernández as well as Pablo Larraín, Jolie attended a performance of Puccini’s “Tosca” starring Lise Davidsen.

Behind the scenes: In preparing for her role as the 20th-century’s great opera diva, Angelina Jolie took voice lessons and learned Callas’ signature arias by Donizetti, Bellini and Puccini. The Academy-Award-winning actress reportedly identified with Callas’ loneliness and vulnerability due to the ongoing scrutiny of her personal life.

At the Met, Jolie commented on the authenticity and poetry found at the opera, and gushed over Lise Davidsen’s performance backstage. We at Ludwig Van couldn’t agree more.

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Sara Schabas

Sara Schabas is a Dora-nominated soprano, writer and yoga teacher. She has performed and created leading roles with companies including Vancouver Opera, Pacific Opera Victoria, the Dayton Opera, and Aspen Opera, and is a former member of Barbara Hannigan’s Equilibrium Young Artists. Currently based in Montreal, she is a doctoral student at McGill University — where she recently received the Wirth Vocal Prize — and editor of Art Song Canada magazine.