Angelina Jolie has received a Golden Globe nomination for her compelling portrayal of Maria Callas. Known for her award-winning performance in Girl, Interrupted and roles in Changeling, The Good Shepherd, Maleficent, and Those Who Wish Me Dead, Jolie demonstrates her versatility once again in this biographical role.
According to Netflix, the film is directed by acclaimed Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín, renowned for his works such as Jackie, Spencer, No, Neruda, and El Conde (2023), which earned a Best Cinematography Oscar nomination.
Larraín describes Maria as his most personal film, offering a creative and psychological portrayal of Callas, depicting her journey to find her own identity and voice after years of performing for others.
Larraín collaborates again with cinematographer Edward Lachman, whose previous work earned him Academy Award nominations for Carol and Far from Heaven.
The screenplay is written by Steven Knight, an Academy Award nominee for Dirty Pretty Things and creator of Peaky Blinders. The film also stars Kodi Smit-McPhee, Alba Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Valeria Golino.
Is Maria based on a true story?
While the film is a reimagined version of Maria Callas’s life, it remains grounded in truth. Larraín’s deep connection with Callas’s legacy, stemming from his childhood, shaped the film’s creation. He recalls how his mother would take him to operas featuring Callas’s performances and then play her recordings at home.
This connection led to the idea for Maria, which is part of Larraín’s thematic trilogy of films about iconic women—Jackie and Spencer focus on Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis and Princess Diana, respectively.
Jolie, who portrays Callas, was drawn to the challenge of playing a performer and stepping into the role of such a legendary figure. She describes the experience as both an honor and a complex emotional journey, striving to understand the choices Callas made throughout her career.
How to watch ‘Maria’ online?
You can watch Angelina Jolie’s Maria online on Netflix. The movie is currently available to stream on the platform, with plans starting at $6.99. Alternatively, you can also check if the movie is playing in theaters near you and purchase tickets to watch it on the big screen.
Check if the movie is playing in theaters near you and purchase tickets to watch it on the big screen. Tickets are available on Fandango. You can also consider subscribing to Netflix basic with Ads, which also offers the movie. The movie premiered on Netflix on December 11, 2024.
