The press has had a lot of focus on how she and ex-husband Brad Pitt are going to avoid running into each other during the film festival in Venice. And when Jolie meets the press to talk about "Maria" she is asked if she feels any emotional connection to the famous opera star she plays in the film.
There are many worries, but I can't talk about that here, as you certainly understand. She was open and she was vulnerable and I share her vulnerability, she says.
Maybe an Oscar
"Maria" has been directed by Pablo Larrain and is about the last years of Maria Callas' life. There have been rumors before the Venice screening about the possibility that Jolie could win another Oscar, this time for best leading role (she was awarded a supporting actress Oscar in 2000 for "Stolen Years").
For me, it's important that I get the opera fans and Callas' fans to feel satisfied. Everything else comes second, but I'm grateful, she says.
Angelina Jolie trained for seven months for the role. In some of the scenes, she sings herself.
The first time I had to do it, I was extremely nervous. My sons were with me and closed the door to make sure no one would come in and eavesdrop, she says.
"The music led me"
What was important was to first and foremost understand the music, to be disciplined and to practice and practice and then finally let my own person come in. The music led me.
Maria Callas is one of the most celebrated opera singers of all time. She is often described as a classical opera diva. But Jolie doesn't like that epithet.
I think the word diva often has a negative tone, it's about other people's opinion of a woman. She was a hardworking woman who didn't harm anyone.
