Angelina Jolie’s Glorious Return: Navigating Fame and Vulnerability in ‘Maria’ at the Venice Film Festival

She is one of the most famous actresses in existence, but how formidable is Angelina Jolie’s filmography? After winning the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for “Girl, Interrupted” (1999), Jolie had several big hits like “Lara Croft: Tomb Raider” and “Mr. and Mrs. Smith,” along with a series of at best mediocre films — who remembers “Taking Lives,” “Alice and Peter: Where Dreams Are Born,” or “A Life in Seven Days”?

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Jolie’s most recent films, the moderately received “Those Who Wish Me Dead” and “Eternals,” were released in 2021, and her only other Oscar nomination came long ago, for “The Exchange,” the 2008 Clint Eastwood film.

Jolie argues that she frequently takes breaks from her career to spend time with her family, but it has been quite a while since a film has showcased everything she has to offer. Perhaps that’s why journalists at the Venice Film Festival, on Thursday, were quick to announce her return to acting in “Maria,” in which Jolie plays the opera singer Maria Callas. Here, finally, is a project that knows how to make the most of her star personality.

Angelina Jolie in ‘Maria’ — Photo: Disclosure

Directed by Pablo Larraín, “Maria” follows the soprano near the end of her life as she reflects on the pressures of fame, her tortured romance with magnate Aristotle Onassis (Haluk Bilginer), and a singing career that began to falter when Callas lost confidence in her voice. It is a substantial role that allows Jolie to alternate between strength and vulnerability amid operatic pieces that make her sing directly to the camera, almost imploring the viewer to marvel at that movie star face.

Musical biopics tend to attract Academy attention, and at the “Maria” press conference, the first question was if Jolie suspected she might have a golden chance by taking on this role. The actress disputed this, saying she was more eager to please the opera fans familiar with Callas.

— My fear would be disappointing them — the actress said. — Of course, if there is a response to the work, I am grateful.

By focusing on a famous woman battling the spotlight of fame, “Maria” forms a trilogy by Larraín with “Jackie” (2016), starring Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy; and “Spencer” (2021), with Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana.

— When you work with Pablo, you can’t do anything halfway — said Jolie.

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Angelina Jolie on the red carpet of the Venice Film Festival 2024 — Photo: Alberto PIZZOLI / AFP

To prepare for the film, she spent several months in vocal training and Italian lessons. Although Larraín asked Jolie to sing the arias live on set, what we hear in the film are archival recordings of Callas with some of Jolie’s singing technologically blended in.

Jolie said she was “terribly nervous” when she was asked to sing for the first time and kept apologizing to the crew for her performance. Still, spending so much time immersed in opera encouraged her to fall in love with the emotionally dynamic art form.

— When you feel a certain level of despair or heartache, at some point, there are just a few sounds that can encapsulate that feeling.

Lately, Jolie has been caught up in litigation with her ex-husband Brad Pitt, who will be in Venice in three days for the premiere of his new film, “Wolfs.” The festival’s artistic director, Alberto Barbera, said that the schedules of both films were arranged so that Jolie and Pitt would not have to cross paths.

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At the “Maria” press conference, it sometimes seemed like Jolie was alluding to her problems with Pitt. When asked how she related to Callas, who went through her share of romantic pain and despair, Jolie chose her words carefully.

— There is a lot I won’t say in this room that you probably know or assume — she told the press. — I share her vulnerability more than anything.