Angelina Jolie opens up about 'loneliness' as she reveals surprising connection with Maria Callas

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: At the AFI Fest premiere of 'Maria' on Saturday, October 26, Angelina Jolie revealed a profound connection to the legendary opera singer Maria Callas, whom she portrays in the film. 

Speaking candidly, the 49-year-old actress touched upon the "certain loneliness" that comes with the relentless dedication to one's craft, a sentiment that resonated deeply with her, especially as she has been navigating her own high-profile struggles and legal battle with ex-husband, Brad Pitt, for years.

Angelina Jolie finds a kindred spirit in Maria Callas

For Angelina Jolie, known for her strong work ethic and relentless drive, Maria Callas' story felt deeply personal.

During her interview with People, the 'Salt' actress noted, "I don’t want to speak too much about it because it’s too personal, but there's definitely a loneliness and a work ethic." She went on to draw an intriguing parallel between herself and Callas, saying, "I'm an imperfect person, but I work very hard."

She added that both of them are "probably both pretty hard on ourselves," as per Page Six. 

Angelina Jolie's 'Maria' reimagines the final days of Maria Callas

In the Pablo Larrain-directed biopic, 'Maria', Angelina Jolie takes on the role of Maria Callas, the American-Greek opera singer known for her powerful voice and turbulent life.

The film explores "the American-Greek soprano as she retreats to Paris after a glamorous and tumultuous life in the public eye. 'Maria' reimagines the legendary soprano in her final days as the diva reckons with her identity and life," as per Netflix. 

Callas died in 1977 of a heart attack at age 53. 

Reflecting on the premiere night, Jolie expressed her gratitude, saying, "I’m so happy to be here tonight. And I’m so happy to share this stage with these extremely talented, wonderful people and my dear friends."

She added, "I hope you see in this film how much we really care for the people whose lives we’re sharing with you and how much they also loved art."

'Maria', featuring an ensemble cast including Alba Rohrwacher, Pierfrancesco Favino, and Valeria Golino, is set to debut in select theaters on November 27 and will be available for streaming on Netflix starting December 11.

The film made its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival on August 29. Jolie wept as the movie received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Sala Grande Theatre.