7 Shocking Facts About Angelina Jolie's Transformation Into Maria Callas For The 2025 Biopic 'Maria'

The world is buzzing with anticipation for the release of *Maria*, the new biographical psychological drama that sees Academy Award-winner Angelina Jolie take on the monumental role of the legendary American-born Greek soprano, Maria Callas. Directed by Chilean auteur Pablo Larraín, the film focuses on the tormented final chapter of Callas's life in 1970s Paris, providing a raw, intimate portrait of a woman who was both a global icon and a deeply private, suffering soul. The film premiered to critical acclaim at the 2024 Venice Film Festival, and as of this current date, December 18, 2025, the buzz surrounding Jolie's performance has already earned her prestigious nominations for the 2025 Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards, signaling a major comeback and a career-defining role for the Hollywood star. The movie is set to be a major cinematic event in early 2025, with a theatrical release in the UK and Ireland on January 10, 2025, and in Australia on January 30, 2025, before a wider streaming release on Netflix in the US. This deep dive explores the intense preparation, the critical focus of the film, and the incredible parallels between the two iconic women that made Jolie the perfect, and perhaps only, choice to portray La Divina.

The Profiles: Maria Callas and Angelina Jolie

The convergence of these two global figures—one the 20th century's greatest opera singer, the other one of the 21st century's most recognizable actresses and humanitarians—is the core of the film's intrigue. To truly appreciate the scale of the performance, one must understand the biographies of both women.

Maria Callas: The Voice of the Century (1923–1977)

• Full Name: Maria Cecilia Sophia Anna Kalogeropoulos
• Born: December 2, 1923, New York City, New York, US
• Died: September 16, 1977, Paris, France (Age 53)
• Nationality: American-born Greek
• Known For: Reviving the bel canto technique in the mid-20th century; her wide-ranging voice and dramatic, theatrical interpretations.
• Iconic Roles: Norma (Bellini), Tosca (Puccini), Violetta (La Traviata), Medea, Lucia di Lammermoor.
• Key Relationship: Her turbulent, decade-long affair with Greek shipping mogul Aristotle Onassis, who later married Jackie Kennedy.
• Legacy: Known as "La Divina" for her unparalleled artistry and dramatic flair, coupled with a famously tumultuous personal life.

Angelina Jolie: The Global Icon (1975–Present)

• Full Name: Angelina Jolie Voight
• Born: June 4, 1975, Los Angeles, California, US
• Parents: Actor Jon Voight and actress Marcheline Bertrand
• Known For: Her versatility as an actress, her directorial work, and her extensive humanitarian efforts.
• Major Accolades: Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, and a Tony Award (as a producer).
• Humanitarian Role: Former Special Envoy and current Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
• Career Highlights: *Girl, Interrupted*, *Lara Croft: Tomb Raider*, *Mr. & Mrs. Smith*, *Maleficent*.

The Seven Revelations of Jolie's Callas Transformation

Jolie's portrayal is not merely an imitation but a profound exploration of Callas's inner world. Director Pablo Larraín, known for his intimate biopics like *Jackie* (starring Natalie Portman) and *Spencer* (starring Kristen Stewart), focuses on the psychological depth of his subjects, and *Maria* is no exception.

1. The Focus on Callas's "Last Days" in Paris

The film deliberately avoids a sprawling, cradle-to-grave narrative. Instead, it concentrates on the final, solitary week of Callas’s life in 1977 Paris, before her death at age 53. This tight focus allows the psychological drama to unfold, showing Callas confronting her identity, her life choices, and her career's tragic end. It's an intimate study of a woman who felt she had lost her voice and her love.

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2. She Had to Learn How to "Breathe Again"

In a surprising revelation, Jolie admitted that her preparation for the role was less about hitting high notes and more about mastering the physical and emotional discipline of an opera singer. She stated that finding the "breath of Maria Callas" was a transformative experience that brought things out of her she didn't know existed. This intense focus on breath control, the foundation of the bel canto technique, was a key to unlocking the soprano's internal world.

3. The Rocky Romance with Aristotle Onassis is Central

No story of Maria Callas is complete without the Greek shipping magnate, Aristotle Onassis. The film prominently features their tumultuous, passionate, and ultimately devastating relationship. Haluk Bilginer plays Onassis, and the film uses black-and-white flashbacks to explore the timeline of their romance, which ended when Onassis married Jackie Kennedy.

4. A Triumphant Return After Difficult Years

Angelina Jolie has been candid about taking a step back from acting during difficult personal years. She described the role of Maria Callas as a "gift" and an "honour," crediting the experience with helping her "come alive" again. This emotional resonance between the actress and the character—a woman finding her voice and self after a period of profound struggle—adds a powerful layer of authenticity to the performance.

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5. A Masterclass in Costume and Makeup

While specific details on the costume designer are guarded, the on-set photos and trailer reveal a meticulous recreation of Callas’s 1970s style—a period defined by elegant, often somber fashion that reflected her isolation. The film's aesthetic is crucial, capturing the melancholy and grandeur of a diva in decline. The transformation is achieved through subtle, period-accurate makeup and hair, avoiding the exaggerated prosthetics often seen in biopics.

6. Part of Larraín's Acclaimed Trilogy of 20th-Century Women

*Maria* is the third installment in director Pablo Larraín’s unofficial trilogy of biopics focusing on iconic, complex women of the 20th century, following *Jackie* (Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis) and *Spencer* (Princess Diana). This context is vital, as Larraín specializes in exploring the psychological pressure cooker of fame and the conflict between a public persona and a private self, making Callas a natural subject.

7. The Award Season Buzz is Real and Immediate

Jolie's performance has been immediately recognized by major awards bodies. Her nominations for the 2025 Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards confirm that this is not just a passion project but a serious contender for the industry's highest honors. Furthermore, Jolie is set to be honored with the prestigious Maltin Modern Master Award on February 5, 2025, a clear testament to the critical acclaim of her portrayal.

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The Legacy of La Divina Through a Modern Lens

The significance of *Maria* extends beyond Angelina Jolie's performance; it’s a re-examination of Maria Callas’s legacy in the modern era. Callas was a figure of intense scrutiny, her weight fluctuations, vocal issues, and scandalous love life constantly dominating headlines.

The film, written by Steven Knight, aims to peel back the layers of the "La Divina" myth to reveal the human being underneath. By focusing on her last days, it explores themes of loneliness, identity crisis, and the price of genius. The film is a powerful meditation on how a woman who commanded the world's greatest opera stages—from La Scala to the Metropolitan Opera—could end her life in quiet solitude in her Paris apartment. The casting of Angelina Jolie, a woman who has navigated similar levels of global fame and intense media scrutiny, is what makes this biopic a truly compelling and necessary piece of cinema.