Jolie Opens Up About Her Struggles in ‘Maria’ – ‘I Was on Another Planet’

Angelina Jolie has spent more than four decades as one of Hollywood’s most versatile and acclaimed actresses, taking on a wide variety of roles that showcase her remarkable range. From action heroes like Lara Croft in Tomb Raider to emotionally charged performances in Girl, Interrupted, Jolie has left an indelible mark on film. Yet, despite her extensive career, one role stands out as the most difficult she has ever taken on — and it’s not just because of the emotional weight it carried. In fact, it was the combination of physical transformation, emotional depth, and technical challenges that made her portrayal of Maria Callas in the 2024 biographical drama Maria her hardest yet.

A Challenging Transformation: The Role of Maria Callas

In Maria, Jolie portrays the iconic opera singer Maria Callas, focusing on the final years of her life and career. Directed by Pablo Larraín, this film explores Callas’ personal and professional struggles, offering a nuanced portrayal of a woman facing public scrutiny, heartbreak, and internal conflict. While many actresses might find playing a legend like Callas daunting, Jolie’s preparation for the role involved significant emotional and technical hurdles, making it stand apart from anything she had done before.

In an interview with Reuters, Jolie herself described the experience as “the hardest, the most challenging role” she had ever played. She spoke about the physical and emotional toll the role took on her, saying, “I was like on another planet because it was so beyond what I was comfortable with as a person and as an artist.” To bring Callas to life authentically, Jolie underwent seven months of intense opera training. She spent long hours learning to sing, often from morning to night, an experience that pushed her well beyond her comfort zone. This technical challenge of mastering opera, an art form she had no prior experience with, added an entirely new layer to the complexity of the role.

The Emotional Depth of Playing Maria Callas

Beyond the technical demands of opera singing, Jolie’s portrayal of Maria Callas also required a deep emotional connection. Callas, like Jolie’s character, faced immense public pressure and personal heartbreak. In Vanity Fair, Jolie reflected on the emotional overlap between her and Callas, noting, “I’m sure there’s a lot that will be read into it of our overlaps as women,” acknowledging that both women experienced public judgment and inner turmoil.

Jolie has openly discussed the emotional toll the role took on her, with her children witnessing her pain on set. In an interview with BBC, she revealed that her children could see how deeply she was affected by the role, further emphasizing the profound personal reflection the part demanded. This combination of emotional vulnerability and technical proficiency made the role of Maria Callas a unique and difficult challenge for the actress.

Comparing Maria to Her Other Roles

While Jolie has tackled numerous demanding roles in her career, including her Oscar-winning turn as Lisa in Girl, Interrupted and her portrayal of Mariane Pearl in A Mighty Heart, none seem to compare to the challenges of playing Maria Callas. In A Mighty Heart, Jolie portrayed the wife of journalist Daniel Pearl, who was kidnapped and murdered in Pakistan. The role required immense emotional range and was certainly one of her more difficult performances. However, unlike Maria, the role did not involve the same level of physical transformation or the technical challenge of mastering opera.

In Girl, Interrupted, Jolie played a sociopathic patient in a psychiatric hospital, a role that earned her widespread acclaim and an Academy Award. While emotionally demanding, Jolie has reflected on how this role impacted her career more than it challenged her, making it less difficult in comparison to her portrayal of Callas.

Roles like Maleficent, Changeling, and Mr. & Mrs. Smith also showcased her versatility, but none required the same combination of emotional, physical, and technical expertise as her portrayal of Maria Callas in Maria.

The Legacy of Maria and Its Reception

Maria premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival in August 2024, and it quickly garnered attention for Jolie’s standout performance. Released on Netflix in December 2024, the film received praise from critics, with many highlighting Jolie’s dedication to portraying one of the most iconic opera singers in history. The film also featured co-stars like Alba Rohrwacher, whose performances added further depth to the story.

Jolie’s performance in Maria has already been recognized as one of her most significant roles to date, with many praising her for her ability to embody a character of such complexity. Her preparation, which included intensive Italian lessons and vocal training, was essential to her success in the role. As W Magazine reported, her commitment to the character’s authenticity was unwavering, and her transformation into Maria Callas was both physical and emotional.

Conclusion: The Most Difficult Role of Angelina Jolie’s Career

While Angelina Jolie has had a storied career, filled with unforgettable performances, her role in Maria stands as the most challenging she has ever undertaken. The unique combination of technical training, emotional depth, and personal reflection required for the role made it a standout in her illustrious career. As she continues to take on complex roles in both film and humanitarian work, Maria will likely remain a defining achievement for Jolie — one that showcases her ability to push beyond her limits and deliver a truly transformative performance.

With her portrayal of Maria Callas, Jolie has not only honored the legacy of one of the greatest opera singers of all time but also reinforced her place as one of Hollywood’s most talented and fearless actresses.