After a long hiatus and personal issues, Angelina Jolie has made her comeback to the big screen in Maria, a biographical psychological drama film about opera singer Maria Callas, where the actress is playing the titular role. The Pablo Larrain directed movie received an eight-minute standing ovation at the Venice Film Festival following the world premiere. Jolie, who is 49 now, talked about her age and how she feels being a woman who is approaching 50.
Angelina Jolie Has Embraced Being An Older Woman
Angelina Jolie in Maria. Image Credit: Pablo Larrain, Netflix
Actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie is embracing the process of aging with grace and a deepened sense of self-awareness. At the 2024 Telluride Film Festival, Jolie candidly discussed the shifts in her life, both personal and professional, highlighting how her perspective on various aspects of life, including music, has evolved with time.
During the festival, Jolie spoke with IndieWire about her latest role in the biographical film Maria, where she portrays the iconic opera singer Maria Callas. In reflecting on her portrayal, Jolie drew parallels between Callas’s emotional depth and her own life experiences. She remarked that as she has grown older, her musical preferences have also transformed, mirroring the personal trials and heartbreaks she has faced.
“I’m 49. I do feel like an older woman now and I embrace that,” Jolie shared, emphasizing her acceptance of this new chapter in her life. She went on to express that, in her youth, her musical tastes were heavily influenced by the emotions she was experiencing at the time, whether it was the excitement of new love or the curiosity about life’s unfolding mysteries.
Jolie has found a profound connection with opera music as she has aged, noting that its depth and complexity resonate with the emotions she now feels. “There is nothing that meets what you’re feeling like opera,” she continued. She expressed that certain songs possess a beauty and yearning that transcend everyday experiences, describing opera as an art form that allows one to fully embrace and express those deeper emotions. This shift in musical preference reflects a broader evolution in Jolie’s personal outlook as she continues to navigate the complexities of life and aging.
Even Before, Angelina Jolie Reflected on Aging
Angelina Jolie. Image Credit: Sony Pictures Entertainment
This isn’t the first time Jolie has spoken openly about her views on aging. In a 2021 interview with British Vogue, she revealed that she has been looking forward to her 50s, seeing this milestone as a time when she expects to fully come into her own. “I do like being older. I feel much more comfortable in my 40s than I did when I was younger,” she shared, attributing this comfort in part to the fact that her mother passed away at a young age. For Jolie, aging is not a source of sorrow but rather a “victory“—a testament to life’s enduring journey. “I’m looking forward to my 50s,” she added, expressing confidence that she will “hit her stride” as she moves into this next phase of life.
Jolie’s reflections on her evolving tastes in music were echoed during the Venice Film Festival on August 29, where she noted how her preferences have shifted from the punk rock she favored in her youth to the classical and operatic music she now enjoys. “I was more punk. I loved all music, but I probably listened to The Clash more than most,” she reminisced, acknowledging that her love for certain bands from her youth persists even as her overall tastes have matured. “I think there’s something I still love about the same music I did when I was younger. I’ll still listen to The Clash,” she admitted, revealing a continuity in her musical journey despite the broader changes.
Jolie’s contemplation of aging is undoubtedly influenced by her role as a mother, with her youngest children nearing adulthood. The impending 18th birthday of her twins, Vivienne and Knox, is a significant milestone, especially as Jolie continues to navigate the challenges of co-parenting with her ex-husband, Brad Pitt. The couple’s ongoing legal disputes over child custody and property issues add another layer of complexity to Jolie’s reflections on this period of her life.
In the midst of these personal challenges and the inevitable passage of time, Angelina Jolie’s reflections offer a glimpse into a woman who is not only accepting but also embracing the journey of aging, finding beauty and meaning in the changes that come with each passing year.
