It looks like Angelina Jolie wants to get serious about her acting career again by signing on to play Maria Callas, the famously tragic opera star who was known for her great talent, temperamental behavior and doomed love affair with Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis, who left her when he married Jacqueline Kennedy.
Jolie, who was last nominated for a best actress Oscar in 2009, will star in the film, “Maria.” The director of “Maria” is Pablo Larrain, who has an affinity for making films about famous, suffering women that lead to Academy Award nominations for the women who play them.
Larrain directed Natalie Portman to a nomination for playing the aforementioned Jacqueline Kennedy, in the aftermath of her husband’s assassination, in the 2016 film, “Jackie.” Last year, Kristen Stewart was a frontrunner for an Oscar for playing Princess Diana in “Spencer,” which depicted the late global icon suffering under the oppression of royal life and from her husband’s infidelity.
Jolie, 47, didn’t mention any Oscar hopes in a statement she released to the media. She instead talked about the artistic challenge of playing Callas, who was born in New York City to Greek immigrant parents. She became one of the most renowned and influential opera singers of the 20th century but she later gave up her career and largely lived in isolation before her death in Paris in 1977 at age 53.
“I take very seriously the responsibility to Maria’s life and legacy,” Jolie said in a statement. “I will give all I can to meet the challenge.” Jolie also said she had long admired the film’s director. She added, “To be allowed the chance to tell more of Maria’s story with him, and with a script by Steven Knight, is a dream.”
Jolie also didn’t mention whether she is expected to sing for the film, or if the film will mostly focus on Callas’ off-stage life.
Jolie hasn’t starred in a film that’s likely to generated Oscar buzz since the 2008 film, “Changeling.” She was nominated for best actress for playing a mother in the 1920s whose child goes missing. Jolie appeared to focus on trying to snag an Oscar for directing by working behind the camera as a director for “In the Land of Blood and Honey” (2011), “Unbroken” (2014), and “First They Killed My Father” (2017). When Jolie worked in front of the camera, it was in action, fantasy or superhero movies. Her biggest commercial success came from playing the vengeful fairy in “Maleficent,” based on the origin story of Snow White.
Jolie also has been busy with her humanitarian work and her years-long legal battle with ex-husband Brad Pitt over the custody of their six children, the sale of their French winery and her allegations that he was abusive to her and their children during their marriage.
