As a seasoned cinephile with a penchant for uncovering hidden gems and untold stories, I must say that “Maria” is a breathtaking testament to the power of perseverance and talent. The journey of Aggelina Papadopoulou, a 17-year-old Greek singer catapulted into the world of Hollywood stardom, is nothing short of extraordinary.
How did a 17-year-old singer from Greece come to perform alongside one of the most famous Hollywood stars? For newcomer Aggelina Papadopoulou, who portrays young Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s “Maria,” it began with an enigmatic message sent to her music school in Athens.
The inquiry sought young women with brown hair, aged between 17 and 22, who resembled the famed American-Greek soprano Maria Callas. These candidates were given no additional information before submitting their audition tapes. Papadopoulou, prior to the Greek premiere of “Maria” as the opening film of Thessaloniki Film Festival, shared with EbMaster that they only had a short time – less than a day – to prepare and record the two songs you hear in the movie.
The singer secured her role in the movie within just under three weeks after submitting her first audition tape. As she explains, “It was a relatively swift process for me, though I understand they had been searching extensively across various nations, particularly focusing on Greece, Spain, and Italy as Pablo preferred Maria to possess Mediterranean characteristics. The casting team went through countless applicants.
Even though it was her debut screen performance, acting seemed effortless for Papadopoulou, who is the daughter of a music school owner and actor Nikos Papadopoulos (“Border Café”). While acting felt instinctive to her, the enormity of working on a film like “Maria” hasn’t quite sunk in yet for this young actress. She had no idea about the magnitude of the production until she left for Budapest to shoot, and all she could say was that she was a part of the movie when it premiered at the Venice Film Festival.
She expressed her astonishment upon discovering the film featured Angelina Jolie. She questioned whether she had misunderstood, as she explained, “I wasn’t certain if I had heard correctly.” Her teacher, parents, and everyone around her were overjoyed because such opportunities are scarce in Greece, particularly for a movie produced overseas.
In the movie directed by Larraín, Papadopoulou portrays Callas at 17 and Jolie as an adult. The two actors seldom filmed together, except for a crucial scene near the end of the biopic. Looking back, Papadopoulou fondly remembers their first encounter, stating that Jolie took time to visit her and chat before shooting began. “I saw her walk by my room,” Papadopoulou recalls, “she noticed I was there, and came back to talk to me. She hugged me, and it was touching because in my mind, she wasn’t someone you could easily approach – she was a star like Callas and a diva. Yet they shared that quality.
Maddox Jolie-Pitt, Jolie’s son, was also working as additional crew in Budapest, and Papadopoulou remembers developing a friendship with the aspiring actor. “We continue to stay in touch,” she says, which is pleasant. He was the one who informed me that Angelina would be attending the film’s London premiere, and I hope to run into him again at a red carpet event.
The young actress, Papadopoulou, noted that her initial role was challenging, particularly when it came to portraying Callas’ emotional turmoil during her years of abuse by her overbearing mother. She explained, “It was difficult for me to experience the emotions Maria felt as a teenager, and it was even harder because these events truly happened in her life.” Larraín, who has a daughter similar in age, shared that he found it unimaginable for such things to occur to a young girl.
As a cinema lover, I’m deeply appreciative of Larraín’s decision to cast a Greek actress for the role of young Callas. It’s wonderful that he found a talented singer from Greece, someone who truly embodies the essence of Callas, considering her immense importance in our country. We even have theaters named after her! I believe it would make Callas proud to see her story told by a fellow Greek actress.
As a child, Papadopoulou was accustomed to hearing Callas’ music, and a touching story unfolds about the day she discovered her casting: “My mom has had an enormous poster of Callas outside her music school for over 15 years. The day I got the role, she said, ‘I always knew Maria Callas would become a part of our lives someday.’ She remains ecstatic and is eager to assist and guide me through this fresh adventure.
Essentially, Papadopoulou is eagerly anticipating the moment when “Maria” will be screened in her native Greece. She’s highly regarded there, and there’s a lot of excitement for the film. “I’m extremely proud of what we managed to create, and I can hardly wait to hear what my fellow countrymen think,” she expresses.
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2024-10-31 13:46