Latest News: Angelina Jolie Portrays Opera Star Maria Callas in New Film
Angelina Jolie has been cast in the role of Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas in the upcoming biographical drama Maria, which premiered at the 2024 Venice Film Festival. The film’s debut was met with a highly emotional reception, earning an eight-minute standing ovation, which left the Oscar-winning actress in tears of joy.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter in August 2024, Jolie, aged 49, discussed the challenges she faced while preparing for the role. She revealed that learning opera was an intensely “scary” experience, requiring months of training. “It took many months of singing classes,” she said. “Months of just getting the singing down, and then the Italian classes, and then the voice… doing all these things like her.” Despite initial struggles, Jolie shared that her first singing class made her cry due to the emotional and physical challenges she encountered.
However, the breakthrough came when her instructor taught her the proper techniques for breathing and singing in the opera style. This moment helped her emotionally connect to the character. “That’s when I became really emotional,” she explained. “It requires your whole heart, body, and mind, opera.”
Maria will be released in select theaters on November 27, 2024, and will be available for streaming on Netflix starting December 11, 2024.
Who Is Angelina Jolie?
Angelina Jolie, born on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, is one of the most renowned figures in Hollywood. Her rise to fame began in the late 1990s, and she quickly became a marquee name in the industry. Her breakthrough role came in 1998 when she starred in the HBO television biopic Gia, portraying the troubled supermodel Gia Carangi. The following year, she earned an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in Girl, Interrupted (1999).
Jolie’s career skyrocketed after that, with iconic roles in films like Wanted, Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Salt, and Changeling. She also achieved major commercial success with Disney’s Maleficent (2014) and its sequel. Beyond acting, Jolie has made her mark as a talented director, helming films like In the Land of Blood and Honey, Unbroken, and By the Sea, the latter of which she co-starred in with her ex-husband Brad Pitt.
Jolie’s personal life has also garnered significant media attention. She was married to Jonny Lee Miller from 1995 to 1999, followed by Billy Bob Thornton from 2000 to 2003, and later Brad Pitt from 2014 to 2019. Jolie and Pitt share six children—Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, and Vivienne. Jolie, a humanitarian and a prominent figure in global charity work, continues to captivate audiences both on and off the screen.
Quick Facts: Angelina Jolie
- Full Name: Angelina Jolie
- Born: June 4, 1975
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California
- Spouse: Jonny Lee Miller (1995–1999), Billy Bob Thornton (2000–2003), and Brad Pitt (2014–2019)
- Children: Maddox, Zahara, Shiloh, Pax, Knox, and Vivienne
- Parents: Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand
- Astrological Sign: Gemini
Young Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie Voight, widely known as Angelina Jolie, was born on June 4, 1975, in Los Angeles, California, to renowned Hollywood actors Jon Voight and Marcheline Bertrand. Raised in the shadows of fame, her early life was marked by both privilege and personal struggle. When Jolie was just a toddler, her parents separated, and their divorce was finalized in 1980. Following the split, Jolie and her younger brother, James Haven, were largely raised by their mother, who made the selfless decision to step away from her own acting career to focus on her children. In contrast, her father, Jon Voight, was largely absent, making only occasional visits during holidays and birthdays. The absence of her father during her formative years would later influence her relationship with him, which would remain strained throughout her life.
Jolie spent much of her childhood in Palisades, New York, before moving back to Los Angeles at the age of 11. Despite her mother’s efforts to protect and nurture her, Jolie faced personal challenges, including issues with her father and her difficult relationship with her peers. As a teenager, she grappled with feelings of alienation and rebellion, choosing to embrace a “punk outsider” persona. It was during this turbulent period that Jolie also struggled with her mental health, an issue she has been open about in interviews over the years.
Lee Strasberg Theater Institute
During her youth, Jolie began taking acting classes at the Lee Strasberg Theater Institute and briefly pursued modeling. However, it was in the world of acting that she found a true passion. As a young child, Jolie followed in her parents’ footsteps and had a brief appearance in her father’s 1982 film Lookin’ to Get Out. However, it wasn’t until her teenage years that her acting career began to take shape more seriously.
Jolie attended Beverly Hills High School but faced severe bullying due to her appearance and demeanor. After enduring harassment, she transferred to Moreno High School, where she continued to deal with emotional difficulties, including depression. Despite these challenges, her acting ambitions grew stronger. In her own words, Jolie referred to this period of her life as a rebellious phase where she struggled to fit in. It was in her teenage years that she developed an intense desire to forge her own path, one separate from the pressures of her famous family.
Relationship
At 14, Jolie began her first serious relationship, moving in with her boyfriend in her family home. She would later describe this period as a time when she felt she had to choose between living recklessly or having a more contained life with her boyfriend. Despite the tensions and emotional complexities of these formative years, Jolie ended this relationship by the time she was 16. She graduated early from high school and made the bold decision to move out of her mother’s home to start living independently. During this time, she legally changed her surname, opting to go by her middle name, Jolie, a step that reflected her desire to distance herself from her father’s legacy and her complicated relationship with him.
In a 2003 interview with Cosmopolitan, Jolie was candid about her strained relationship with Jon Voight. She shared that she did not want to publicly discuss the reasons for their estrangement but made it clear that she had decided it was unhealthy for her to maintain a relationship with him. In 2002, Jolie made it official by legally changing her surname, signaling her desire for independence from her famous father.
Movies and Career Beginnings
Jolie’s early career was marked by a combination of experimental roles and notable appearances. Before landing major film roles, she appeared in several music videos for artists like Lenny Kravitz and Meat Loaf, helping her gain exposure in the entertainment industry. She also had a role in the B-movie Cyborg 2: Glass Shadow, which, while not critically acclaimed, marked the beginning of her on-screen presence.
In 1995, Jolie scored her first major studio role in the cult classic Hackers, where she played the role of a teenage hacker, Dade Murphy’s (Jonny Lee Miller) romantic interest. The film, though not a major box office hit at the time, would later gain a cult following and serve as a launching pad for Jolie’s career.
The following year, Jolie starred in Without Evidence, a thriller about a mother whose son was kidnapped. This film, however, didn’t make much of an impact on her career trajectory. However, Jolie’s talent began to shine through as she appeared in a variety of roles, and by 1997, she was starring in four films in the span of just one year, including the independent queer drama Foxfire.
Her career took a significant leap in 1997 when she starred in the television mini-series George Wallace, which chronicled the life of the segregationist Alabama governor George Wallace. Jolie portrayed his wife, Cornelia, in a role that garnered critical acclaim. Her performance earned her the Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television, and she was also nominated for an Emmy Award for the same role. This marked the first major recognition of Jolie’s acting talents and set the stage for what would become a celebrated and diverse career in Hollywood.
Golden Globe for Gia: Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie’s breakthrough role came in 1998 with the HBO film Gia, a biographical drama about the tragic life of fashion model Gia Marie Carangi. Jolie played the title character, a role that would go on to define her as a serious and talented actress. Initially, Jolie was hesitant to accept the part, concerned that the script might not do justice to the film’s difficult themes, including drug addiction, mental health struggles, and Gia’s untimely death from AIDS. However, after speaking with the film’s creators and gaining reassurance, she fully committed to the role. Jolie, known for her method acting style, even stayed in character off-screen, embodying the troubled model during breaks between filming.
Her dedication paid off when her performance in Gia earned her widespread recognition. The film was a critical success, and Jolie’s portrayal of Gia won her a Golden Globe Award for Best Actress. She also received an Emmy nomination for her performance. Despite the accolades, the emotional depth of the role left Jolie feeling exposed. She briefly stepped away from acting, moving to New York to study directing and screenwriting at New York University (NYU). She later reflected on this decision, saying, “I felt like I’d exposed so much, and I felt quite vulnerable after it. I just didn’t know if I had much more to offer.” However, her success with Gia led her to reconsider and return to acting, launching her into even greater fame.
Oscar Win for Girl, Interrupted
Angelina Jolie’s career trajectory continued its rapid ascent with her role in 1999’s Girl, Interrupted, where she starred alongside Winona Ryder. The film, set in a psychiatric hospital, focused on a group of teenagers dealing with mental illness in the 1960s. Jolie portrayed Lisa Rowe, a rebellious sociopath who challenges the institution’s rules and manipulates others around her.
Jolie’s performance as Lisa was nothing short of transformative, earning her a Best Supporting Actress Oscar in 2000. She also won another Golden Globe in the same category for her portrayal. In her acceptance speech, she reflected on the character, saying, “To be honest, there’s a lot of Lisa in me… I certainly have been told a lot of times that I’m dark or that people think I’m crazy. I didn’t think that Lisa was insane, that she deserved to be locked up.” The role resonated deeply with Jolie, and her performance was lauded for its emotional intensity and complexity.
This Oscar win solidified her status as one of Hollywood’s top actresses and showed her versatility as an actor.
Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft
With her rise to fame, Jolie continued to take on diverse roles. One of her most iconic portrayals came in 2001 when she was cast as the adventurer Lara Croft in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, based on the popular video game series. Though the film itself received mixed reviews, Jolie’s performance as the daring, athletic archaeologist was widely praised, cementing her status as a global action star. She reprised her role in the 2003 sequel, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider—The Cradle of Life, but the film didn’t perform as well at the box office as its predecessor.
During this period, Jolie also starred in the romantic thriller Original Sin (2001), alongside Antonio Banderas, about a wealthy Cuban man who marries a mysterious American woman. In 2002, she appeared in Life or Something Like It, where she played a Seattle reporter who interviews a homeless psychic. Despite her growing fame, not all of Jolie’s films during this time were well-received. She also starred in 2003’s Beyond Borders, which dealt with humanitarian issues and showcased her commitment to socially conscious roles, although it struggled at the box office.
Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Jolie’s career reached new heights with 2005’s Mr. and Mrs. Smith, where she starred alongside Brad Pitt as married assassins who discover that they’ve been keeping their deadly professions secret from each other. The film, which combined action with romantic comedy, became a massive hit, grossing over $478 million worldwide. Jolie and Pitt’s undeniable chemistry on screen ignited rumors about their off-screen relationship, which they downplayed at the time. Mr. and Mrs. Smith became a cultural phenomenon, and the film’s success marked a turning point in Jolie’s career, making her one of Hollywood’s most bankable stars.
Other Notable Roles
Following Mr. and Mrs. Smith, Jolie continued to take on a variety of roles that showcased her versatility. In 2006, she played Mariane Pearl, the pregnant widow of Wall Street Journal reporter Danny Pearl, in A Mighty Heart. The film was based on Mariane Pearl’s memoir of her husband’s abduction and murder in Pakistan. Jolie’s portrayal was deeply emotional and earned her critical acclaim for her sensitive, understated performance.
In 2007, Jolie voiced Grendel’s Mother in the animated film Beowulf, taking on a dark role. That year, she also earned praise for her performance in Changeling, directed by Clint Eastwood. The film, based on a real-life case, showcased her range as Christine Collins. This further solidified her as one of Hollywood’s top actresses.
Jolie’s career grew from her role in Gia to becoming a multi-award winner. She starred in films like Girl, Interrupted, Tomb Raider, and Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Her ability to play diverse characters keeps her at the forefront of Hollywood. She remains one of the most successful and respected actresses of her generation.
Angelina Jolie’s Career and Personal Life
Angelina Jolie’s rise to global stardom is marked by dedication to complex roles. She portrayed Gia Marie Carangi in Gia (1998), earning a Golden Globe and an Emmy nomination. Although she hesitated at first due to the script’s heavy themes, she embraced the role fully. She stayed in character even between scenes. After the film, she briefly thought about leaving acting. However, the success and acclaim drew her back into the industry.
Jolie’s career took another leap forward with her Oscar-winning role in Girl, Interrupted (1999), where she played Lisa Rowe, a sociopathic teenager in a psychiatric hospital. Her powerful performance in the film earned her an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and a second Golden Globe. She later became known worldwide for her portrayal of the iconic adventurer Lara Croft in Tomb Raider (2001) and its sequel, Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life (2003), cementing her status as a Hollywood A-lister.
Angelina Jolie’s Rise with “Mr. and Mrs. Smith” and “Brangelina”
In 2005, Jolie starred in Mr. and Mrs. Smith with Brad Pitt. The film was a box office hit and sparked the “Brangelina” relationship. Together, they built an extraordinary family, adopting children from around the world.
Jolie’s career evolved as she took on high-profile roles and directed films. She made her directing debut with In the Land of Blood and Honey (2011), focusing on the Bosnian War. She followed with Unbroken (2014), a biographical film about Louis Zamperini. Despite directing, she remained a top actress, starring in Maleficent (2014). She reimagined the classic Disney villain and returned in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019).
More recently, Jolie has continued to take on varied roles, including playing an immortal in Marvel’s Eternals (2021) and starring in the upcoming biopic Maria, where she portrays opera singer Maria Callas. Additionally, she has written and directed films such as First They Killed My Father (2017) and Without Blood (2024), further establishing her as a versatile artist.
Marriages and Personal Life: Angelina Jolie
Jolie’s personal life often grabs headlines, especially her marriages and divorces. She married Jonny Lee Miller, then Billy Bob Thornton, and later Brad Pitt. Her 2016 divorce from Pitt involved a public custody battle over their six children. Allegations of abuse and custody disputes kept her life in the media spotlight.
Despite personal struggles, Jolie remains a Hollywood icon with global influence. She excels in acting, directing, and humanitarian work. As a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador and Special Envoy, she raises awareness of global crises. She focuses on issues affecting women and children, using her platform for change.
Children: Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is a mother to six children, both adopted and biological, whom she shares with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt. Their children, from oldest to youngest, are Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, Knox, and Vivienne. Jolie’s journey as a mother began in 2002 when she adopted Maddox from Cambodia. Three years later, she adopted Zahara from Ethiopia, and Pitt officially adopted both children in 2005. In 2006, the couple welcomed their first biological daughter, Shiloh, who was born in Namibia. The following year, Jolie adopted Pax, a 3-year-old boy from Vietnam, before giving birth to fraternal twins, Knox and Vivienne, in July 2008.
After her split from Pitt, Jolie sought sole custody of their six children but was awarded joint custody in May 2021. However, this decision was overturned in October 2022 due to a legal technicality. Despite the ongoing divorce, three of Jolie’s children—Zahara, Shiloh, and Vivienne—chose to adopt her last name.
Humanitarian Efforts: Angelina Jolie
Angelina Jolie is a dedicated humanitarian who was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations Refugee Agency in 2001. Over the years, she has made significant efforts to support refugees in countries like Cambodia, Tanzania, Pakistan, Darfur, and Jordan. Her activism has garnered international recognition, including the Global Humanitarian Action Award from the United Nations Association of the USA in 2005 and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the 2014 Governors Awards. Although Jolie resigned from her UN ambassadorship in 2022, she continues to advocate for refugees and other humanitarian causes. In September 2024, she met with refugees displaced by the conflict in Sudan, urging the UN to “scale up the humanitarian response” in the country.
Health Issues and Cancer Prevention
Jolie faced tough health challenges, losing her mom to ovarian cancer in 2007 at age 56. In May 2013, she chose a double mastectomy after learning she carried the BRCA1 gene. This gene raised her cancer risk to 87% for breast and 50% for ovarian cancer. To lower this risk, she took action and shared her decision publicly.
In March 2015, she removed her ovaries and fallopian tubes as a further preventative step. She shared her story to inspire women with similar health risks. Jolie explained that a positive BRCA test doesn’t demand immediate surgery and offers various options for managing risks.
In 2017, Jolie revealed that she had developed Bell’s palsy, which caused facial paralysis on one side of her face. Thanks to acupuncture, she fully recovered from the condition.
Net Worth: Angelina Jolie
As of August 2024, Angelina Jolie’s estimated net worth is $120 million. She remains one of Hollywood’s highest-paid actresses, earning an average of $20 million per role. In addition to her acting career, Jolie is the founder of the sustainable fashion collective Atelier Jolie.
