Angelina Jolie Reflects on The Emotional Journey Behind 'Maria' with Her Sons

Angelina Jolie discusses the intersection of her career and family life while portraying Maria Callas in the upcoming biopic 'Maria'. Her sons, Maddox and Pax, took on roles as production assistants and saw their mother face emotional challenges, which led to a unique bonding experience. Jolie's transformative role is expected to garner Oscar attention, despite mixed critical reviews of the film.

Angelina Jolie is known for her privacy, but she recently opened up about her emotional experiences on the set of her new biopic "Maria," in which she portrays the iconic opera singer Maria Callas. In an interview with BBC News, Jolie spoke about how her two eldest sons, Maddox and Pax, who served as production assistants, witnessed sides of her that they had rarely seen before.

The film tells the story of Callas during her later years in Paris and dives deep into her pain, a parallel Jolie recognizes from her own life. "They've of course seen me go through a lot of things, but they hadn't experienced me expressing a lot of the pain that usually a parent hides," she shared. She noted how her sons provided comforting gestures during filming, like bringing her cups of tea, creating a new level of honesty and vulnerability in their relationship.

Written by "Peaky Blinders" creator Steven Knight, "Maria" has been seen as Jolie's comeback role, possibly placing her in the race for an Oscar nomination for Best Actress. Callas, one of the most renowned opera singers, is depicted through a blend of Jolie's voice and original recordings, reflecting the dedication Jolie put into her singing training, which lasted around seven months. "It was very physically demanding," she remarked, embracing the challenge despite her initial shyness about singing.

The director, Pablo Larraín, praised Jolie's sons for their professionalism on set. As Jolie pointed out, the experience of tackling difficult tasks and enduring failures in front of her children serves as an important lesson about perseverance. "It's always good for your children to watch your mum not do something easily," she noted, highlighting the value of resilience.

While reactions to the film have been mixed, many critics acknowledge Jolie's captivating portrayal of Callas. The film aims to shed light on opera, a form of art that Larraín believes has immense power. "If this movie brings attention to opera from one to a million, it will be a success," he stated. Jolie echoed this sentiment, emphasizing opera's deep connection to the soul, reaffirming its accessibility to everyone.

Scheduled for release in the UK on January 10, "Maria" could redefine Jolie's cinematic journey while intertwining her family experience with the complexities of her character, paving the way for greater understanding and connection within her family.