Angelina Jolie could very well win her second Oscar next year (her first was for Girl, Interrupted back in 2000, FYI) for her portrayal of opera singer Maria Callas due to the rave reviews Maria is already getting.
However, the 49-year-old Tony-winning Outsiders producer may have never taken on the part in the Maria Callas biopic if she had listened to one of her ex-boyfriends, as the currently unnamed ex reportedly told her she couldn’t sing! We are so grateful that she didn’t listen to him!
Angelina Jolie Opened Up To 'The Hollywood Reporter' About Previously Assuming She 'Couldn't Really Sing'
The Atelier Jolie founder opened up to the Hollywood Reporter about preparing to take on the role of the American-born Greek opera singer, and the fear she felt about letting the world hear her singing voice.
"It was an out-of-body experience because I don't sing," the CR Fashion Book cover star confessed. "I had somebody in my life who was not kind to me about singing," she continued, adding: "It was a relationship I was in. And so I just assumed I couldn't really sing."
"I'd been to theatre school, so it was weird that it even had an effect on me," she continued. "I just kind of adapted to this person's opinion. So it took me getting past a lot of things to start singing."
Angelina Jolie Spent 7 Months Training Before Filming 'Maria'
The mom-of-six didn't just 'start' singing, as she actually spent many months training her voice. She opened about preparing for the role during her appearance at the Telluride Film Festival last month, and said: "I had seven months of opera classes, great teachers and Italian classes, and a supportive team that were going to help me."
She went into more detail about her training and how she was scared she wouldn't be able to "live up to" Callas at the Venice International Film Festival. "I was terribly nervous; I spent almost seven months training," she explained.
The Maleficent star added: "My first time singing, I remember being so nervous. My sons were there and they helped to block the door [so] that nobody else was coming in, and I was shaky. And [director Pablo Larraín], in his decency, started me in a small room and ended me in La Scala. So he gave me time to grow. I was frightened to live up to [Callas]."
Angelina Jolie Confessed That She Didn't Know Much About Opera Before Taking On The Role Of Maria Callas
Gearing herself up to actually sing was only part of the Eternals actress's preparation for the movie, as she confessed in a previous interview that she didn't know much about opera before they started shooting.
Jolie told IndieWire last month: "I grew up in America. In other countries, they understand how essential and important it is, and it's much more a part of the culture, but not where I was raised."
"I had been introduced to [Maria Callas] but it was a complete discovery of this new art form, to come in and transform my life and teach me all of the different operas," Jolie continued, adding: "I hope that most people however they relate to the film go into a discovery and they let themselves feel it and they try to sing it. If I can do it…"
