Angelina Jolie Stars as Maria Callas in New Pablo Larraín Biopic "Maria"

"Maria" recently had its debut at the Venice Film Festival, and the rights have been acquired by Netflix

Pablo Larraín's new biopic of the opera singer Maria Callas recently had its debut at the Venice Film Festival — where it received a 10-minute ovation. The film stars Angelina Jolie in the title role and covers the isolated final week of Callas's life — during which she had only her butler and housemaid to nurse her.

The film's script is by Oscar nominee Steven Knight (Spencer), while Juan de Dios Larraín, Lorenzo Mieli, and Jonas Dornbach were the producers.

Prior to taking on the role, Jolie had never sung in public before, and trained for seven months in order to prepare for the film. The singing heard in the final cut is a digital blend of Jolie and Callas herself, with different proportions of each individual depending on what the scene required.

Larraín said it was necessary for Jolie to undertake specialist training for the role since opera singing requires specific posture, breathing, and color.

Born Maria Kalogeropoulos to Greek parents in New York, Maria Callas was considered one of the greatest singers of all time — but she was also subject to immense scrutiny, over matters such as her weight, manner, and choice of partners.

"I felt such a privilege to feel like I got to know this woman and got to be inside her skin a moment," Jolie said following the premiere. "I really care for her deeply. I think I’ll carry that like a friend."

"I think the way I related to her was probably the part of her that is extremely soft and doesn’t have room in the world to be as soft as she was, as emotionally open as she truly was…I share her vulnerability more than anything."

According to Larraín, Callas was "the greatest voice in history who had a very beautiful and difficult life."

"Of course, this movie wouldn’t exist without Angelina," he added.

You can view a clip from the film below.