Venice’s Lido island dazzled with cinematic magic as Angelina Jolie made a stunning appearance at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. Amid the historic allure of the Italian city, the actress stole the spotlight in a custom-made beige gown paired with a luxurious fur stole. On Thursday night, Angelina was the star of Italy during the world premiere of “Maria,” a biographical drama directed by Pablo Larrain about the legendary opera singer Maria Callas. The film delves into Callas’s tumultuous life and her final days in Paris during the 1970s, leaving the audience at the Sala Grande deeply moved. Following the screening, the film received an eight-minute standing ovation. Angelina, visibly emotional, was seen wiping away tears and occasionally turning her face away from the enthusiastic applause.
The actress, who last competed for an Oscar in 2009, was comforted by her co-star Pierfrancesco Favino and director Pablo Larrain, who made a special effort to acknowledge the audience’s overwhelming support from the gallery.
“Maria” is the third installment in Larrain’s trilogy of films about iconic women, following “Jackie” and “Spencer.” The film marks Angelina’s return to the Best Actress race for the first time in 15 years, and Netflix is set to release the film later this year.
During a press conference earlier on Thursday, Angelina opened up about her preparation to portray the iconic soprano Callas, which involved her singing in a role for the first time. She shared her nervousness about learning to sing opera, saying, “Everybody here knows, I was terribly nervous. I spent almost seven months training because when you work with Pablo, you can’t do anything in half. He demands, in the most wonderful way, that you really do the work and you really learn and train.”
The event at the Venice Film Festival showcased not only Jolie’s powerful performance but also her dedication to the role, marking a significant moment in her career and a potential return to awards contention.
