For Angelina Jolie, portraying the famed opera singer Maria Callas meant more to her than she can put into words.

含羞草研究社淚 felt such a privilege to feel like I got to know this woman and got to be inside her skin a moment. I really care for her deeply,含羞草研究社� Jolie told The Associated Press a few hours the film含羞草研究社檚 world premiere at the Thursday. 含羞草研究社淚 think I含羞草研究社檒l carry that like a friend含羞草研究社�

Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larra铆n called on Jolie to take on the role as the legendary soprano in 含羞草研究社淢aria,含羞草研究社� which was recently acquired by Netflix for distribution. The film focuses on the final week of her life in 1977, in Paris.

Larra铆n, a Venice regular, continues to explore the lives of very famous women with tragic narratives attached to them. In 2016, he came to the festival with his Jackie Kennedy portrait, 含羞草研究社淛ackie,含羞草研究社� starring Natalie Portman as the first lady in the aftermath of her husband含羞草研究社檚 assassination. In 2021 he returned with Kristen Stewart playing Princess Diana as she considered divorce over the Christmas holiday in 含羞草研究社淪pencer.含羞草研究社� Both films earned their leads best actress nominations.

含羞草研究社淢aria含羞草研究社� is the so-called conclusion to this trilogy of historical women, though Callas may be a bit less known to younger generations who weren含羞草研究社檛 around for the headlines and scandals. Born Maria Kalogeropoulos to Greek parents in New York, the singer made her professional debut in Athens as a 17-year-old.

During her brief life she became one of the greatest opera singers of all time with her unparalleled voice and stage presence. But the accolades also came with the intense scrutiny of her life in the public eye, whether it was her exacting demands and 含羞草研究社渄iva含羞草研究社� behavior, her weight or her romantic life. Callas famously had a relationship with shipping magnate Aristotle Onassis who left her for Jackie Kennedy.

She died in Paris at age 53 after a heart attack.

含羞草研究社淲hen I put her big glasses on and her Greek hair and I sat in my little robe as an older lady, I felt a (Maria) that felt like the private (Maria) that the world didn含羞草研究社檛 know,含羞草研究社� Jolie said. 含羞草研究社淎nd I connected to her first and, and kind of loved her.含羞草研究社�

Jolie made a grand entrance on the docks of the Hotel Excelsior, on the Lido, posing for photographers in a drapey brown dress with hair long and loose.

She was reluctant to compare fame in Callas含羞草研究社� time to the present moment.

含羞草研究社淚 didn含羞草研究社檛 live then. I guess hard in different ways, easy in different ways,含羞草研究社� Jolie said. 含羞草研究社淪he was celebrated as one of the most wonderful artists and she also had food thrown at her and insulted and lied about. So I don含羞草研究社檛 know. She must have felt含羞草研究社� she must have felt very alone.含羞草研究社�

trained for six months to prepare for the role. The singing in the film is a blend of actor and the real thing.

含羞草研究社淚 trained for months, but my first days, (Larra铆n) was very good to me in that we started in a more intimate first with very few crew members,含羞草研究社� Jolie said. 含羞草研究社淎nd we ended at La Scala with everyone. So I had a little time to get my nerve. But this is the hardest thing I含羞草研究社檝e ever done. I was terrified.含羞草研究社�

Jolie has twice been nominated for acting Oscars. She won for her supporting role in 含羞草研究社淕irl, Interrupted,含羞草研究社� and was last nominated for her leading role in Clint Eastwood含羞草研究社檚 含羞草研究社淐hangeling.含羞草研究社�

The actor is also expected to depart Venice arrives for the premiere of his film 含羞草研究社淲olfs含羞草研究社� on Sunday. Though legally single since 2019, they are still fighting over issues like custody, finances and a winery in France.

含羞草研究社淢aria含羞草研究社� is among the 21 features which will be announced on Sept. 7.