Angelina Jolie, renowned for her captivating performances and timeless beauty, has once again captivated audiences with her portrayal of the legendary opera singer Maria Callas in the Pablo Larraín-directed biopic. Vogue’s Radhika Seth hailed it as Jolie’s greatest performance yet, earning her an eight-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival. This portrayal has transformed Jolie into a modern-day embodiment of old-world composure, a quality often lost in today’s fast-paced world.
Jolie, in a recent interview with Vogue, described her approach to the character’s wardrobe: “I chose not to copy [Maria’s] looks because they are hers, and her Venice carpets were stunning, so I gave a little nod to her—in a different way.” She aimed to honor Callas’s elegance through subtle homages, opting for ladylike attire. Throughout the promotional tour, Jolie graced red carpets in a range of sophisticated outfits. She favored Saint Laurent and Tom Ford dresses with Grecian-style sleeves, a subtle nod to Callas’s heritage. At the Telluride Film Festival, she chose a luxurious cashmere column dress paired with Roger Vivier’s buckled City pumps, further emphasizing her dedication to a timeless aesthetic.
Jolie’s choice of clothing, particularly the use of draped fabrics and soft yarns, resonates with the essence of Callas’s own relationship with fashion. As Vogue’s Liam Hess observed, Callas saw clothing as an “armor”, a protective shield against the often-hostile world. Jolie’s wardrobe choices, while seemingly luxurious and glamorous, also reveal a deeper connection to Callas’s personal narrative and her use of clothing as a means of self-expression and protection. This artistic fusion of homage and personal interpretation reflects Jolie’s profound understanding of Callas’s legacy and her ability to embody the spirit of the legendary soprano in a way that resonates with modern audiences.
