“It was very scary for her”: Angelina Jolie’s One Achievement in Her Upcoming Biopic Breaks Her Career Trend That Remained Untouched Even in Mr. & Mrs. Smith

Angelina Jolie has been hailed for her fearless performances and ability to tackle a wide range of roles. Whether it is portraying emotionally complex characters or action-packed roles, Jolie has done it all with finesse and ease. Yet, in her upcoming film, a biopic, the actress faces a challenge that even iconic roles like her turn in Mr. & Mrs. Smith couldn’t break.

Joining the trend of actors who have previously ‘sang’ in their movies, Jolie too will be showing off her singing talent in the upcoming biopic of Maria Callas, Maria, by filmmaker Pablo Larraín.

Angelina Jolie’s New Challenge in Upcoming Biopic, Maria

Angelina Jolie has never shied away from challenges, whether it is learning martial arts for her action roles or performing deadly stunts on her own. But in her upcoming flick, the actress faces a challenge like never before: ‘singing’. Next starring in Pablo Larraín‘s Maria, the biopic is based on the life of Maria Callas.

An ill-fated Greek-American opera singer who suffered from near-sightedness all her life, she was referred to as La Divina or The Divine One throughout her days of being a soprano singer. Now heralded as one of the most famous opera singers of the 20th century, she will be portrayed by Jolie in her upcoming biopic, Maria.

Having spent six months training to portray her, the director of the biopic recently revealed some behind-the-scenes details to Vanity Fair. Talking about Callas’ biopic, Larraín remarked,

How can you make a movie about Maria Callas without using her voice? You can’t. [But] you can’t make a movie like this with an actress that is not actually singing it.

Hence, Jolie had to spend her days learning how to sing and taking lessons from John Warhurst for the role, an act extremely challenging for her.

This is the real thing — it was very scary for her, but she did it.

Admits Larraín as he went in to state that the Marvel star had to take a very long, very particular, very difficult journey to prep for the role. He also added that although not all of it is Jolie singing, balancing the actress’ voice with the recording of Callas proved extremely challenging.

Nobody Else Could Have Portrayed Maria Callas: Pablo Larraín

Angelina Jolie has never before sung in any of her movies. But she will now, join the ranks of a handful of actors like Natalie Portman (in Vox Lux), Anne Hathaway (in Les Misérables), Rami Malek (in Bohemian Rhapsody), Bradley Cooper (in A Star is Born), and many many more. While Pablo Larraín remains sure the actress will nail the role, the question arises: why would he cast Jolie if she has never sung before?

While talking to Vanity Fair, the esteemed filmmaker replies, as if it is one of the most obvious decisions he has ever taken.

This is the greatest diva of the 20th century, and who could play that? I didn’t want to work with someone that didn’t have that already. I needed an actress who would naturally and organically be that diva, carry that weight, be that presence. Angelina was there.

As the upcoming biopic explores the life of Maria Callas, all the iconic and controversial parts, we can’t wait to see Jolie embody the diva and bring her story to life on the big screen. Bound to be a captivating performance, the biopic Maria is sure to be a worthy part of the actress’ diverse filmography.

Maria will debut at the 81st Venice International Film Festival this year.