Angelina Jolie Cries During Rousing Standing Ovation for Maria at Venice Film Festival

Angelina Jolie is emotional about the reaction to her latest film.

Jolie, who plays the late opera singer Maria Callas in the film directed by Pablo Larraín Mariareceived an eight-minute standing ovation at its premiere on Thursday, August 29 at the Sala Grande Theater during the 2024 Venice Film Festival.

Jolie, 49, was teary-eyed as the audience applauded after the film ended.

The Oscar-winning actress wiped away tears, briefly turning her face away from the crowd. Jolie also hugged Larraín, 48, and her castmates as they soaked up the audience’s affection for the film.

Several people posted videos of Jolie on social media during the standing ovation. “Angelina Jolie’s eight-minute ovation at #Venezia81 for ‘Maria’ is the most rapturous ovation I’ve seen at a festival since Brendan Fraser launched his Oscar campaign for Whale here two years ago,” DiversityEditor-in-Chief Ramin Setoodeh wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter).

Pablo Larraín’ and Angelina Jolie on August 29, 2024 in Venice, Italy.

Alessandro Levati/Getty

For the premiere, Jolie wore a custom strapless beige Tamara Ralph dress with fur trim covering the sleeves, romantic drapery down the silhouette and a ruffled skirt hem.

She paired her look with a bold red lip that matched her nails, contrasting with a monochromatic combination of earth tones.

Maria Reviews: What critics are saying about Angelina Jolie’s transformation and singing as an opera diva

Before the screening, Jolie talked about how the role presented different challenges. Playing the famous soprano gave her “therapy I didn’t know I needed,” she said at a press conference Thursday, per The Hollywood Reporter.

“I had no idea how much I was holding in and not letting out,” she said. “So the challenge was not technical, it was an emotional experience to find your voice, to be in your body, to express yourself. You have to give every part of yourself.”

Pablo Larraín’ and Angelina Jolie on August 29, 2024 in Venice, Italy.

Maria Moratti/Getty

Angelina Jolie recalls being ‘shaky’ for her ‘First Time Singing’ Maria. How her sons helped her nerves

The PEOPLE Puzzler has arrived! How fast can you solve it? Play now!

Meanwhile, ahead of filming in 2022, Jolie said of taking on the role: “I take the responsibility of Maria’s life and legacy very seriously. I will do everything I can to rise to the challenge. Pablo Larraín is a director I have long admired. Getting the chance to tell more about Maria’s story with him, and with Steven Knight’s script, is a dream.”

Larraín added: “Having the opportunity to combine my two deepest and most personal passions, cinema and opera, has been a long-awaited dream. To do it with Angelina, an extremely brave and curious artist, is a fascinating opportunity. A true gift.”

The film tells the “tumultuous, beautiful and tragic story of the life of the world’s greatest opera singer, relived and reimagined during her final days in Paris in the 1970s,” according to a press release.

Never miss a story — subscribe to PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Netflix has acquired the rights to Maria but the release date has not been announced yet.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education