Netflix's 2024 biopic Mariafeatures a strong cast led by Academy Award winner Angelina Jolie. Jolie, best known for her roles in films such as Maleficent, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, and Girl, Interrupted, returns in her first feature film since Marvel's 2021 action blockbuster Eternals. Jolie has also directed several films, such as First They Killed My Fathers (2017) and Unbroken (2014). Jolie took a break from acting from 2021's Eternals until 2024's Maria to focus on spending more time with her six kids, Maddox, Pax, Zahara, Shiloh, and twins Knox and Vivienne.
Maria depicts the final days in the life of Maria Callas, who was once considered the greatest opera singer in the world. The film takes place in 1970s Paris as Maria's health declines. Maria sees the world through a near-hallucinogenic and fading lens with her butler, Ferruccio, and her maid, Bruna, who care deeply for her. Maria is directed by Chilean director Pablo Larraín of Spencer (2021) and Jackie (2016) acclaim. The original screenplay is written by Steven Knight, best known for creating the Cillian Murphy-led Netflix series Peaky Blinders. Maria was released in select theaters after premiering at the 81st Venice Film Festival in August 2024.
Maria
is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.
Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas
Actor: Jolie, 49, is an Academy Award-winning actress. She is best known for her roles in feature films such as Maleficent, Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, Girl, Interrupted, Changeling, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Salt, and Wanted. She made her feature film debut in 1982's Lookin' to Get Out starring Jon Voight, who is her father. After winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for the 1999 drama Girl, Interrupted, she went on to star in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider in 2001. She has also been a voice actor in animated films such as Shark Tale and Kung Fu Panda. She has also directed several feature films, including the Oscar-nominated Unbroken in 2013. She is set to star in the upcoming films Stitches, Maude v Maude, and Maleficient 3.
Notable Works:
Film/TV Series
Character
Maleficent
Maleficent
Girl, Interrupted
Lisa
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider
Lara Croft
Character: Angelina Jolie plays the titular protagonist Maria Callas, who was once considered the greatest opera singer in the world, during the final days of her life in 1970s Paris.
Kodi Smit-McPhee as Mandrax
Actor: Kodi Smit-McPhee, 28, is an Academy Award-nominated actor from Australia. He made his feature film debut in the 2006 drama Stranded before rising to prominence in the 2009 dystopian film The Road alongside Viggo Mortensen in an adaptation of the acclaimed Cormac McCarthy novel. Smit-McPhee went on to appear in the critically acclaimed 2014 action film Dawn of the Planet of the Apes and also was in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) and X-Men: Dark Phoenix (2019) as Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler. He earned an Oscar nomination for his supporting role as Peter Gordon in The Power of the Dog, which was nominated for 12 Academy Awards and won Best Director for Jane Campion. Smit-McPhee was also in Elvis and the recent Apple murder mystery series Disclaimer.
Notable Works:
Film/TV Series
Character
X-Men: Apocalypse
Kurt Wagner / Nightcrawler
The Power of the Dog
Peter Gordon
Dawn of the Planet of the Apes
Alexander
Character: Kodi Smit-McPhee plays Mandrax in Maria.
Pierfrancesco Favino as Ferruccio
Actor: Pierfrancesco Favino, 55, is an Italian actor and film producer. He is best known for appearing in major American movies such as World War Z (2013) and Rush (2013). After appearing in several TV movies during the 1990s, Favino rose to prominence after appearing as Christopher Columbus in 2006's Night at the Museum starring Ben Stiller. He went on to appear in The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian (2008) and Angels & Demons (2009) before landing a recurring role as Niccolo Polo in the Netflix series Marco Polo. He has starred in several recent movies such as Naples to New York, Adagio, and The Count of Monte-Cristo.
Notable Works:
Film/TV Series
Character
Rush
Clay
Night at the Museum
Christopher Columbu
Marco Polo
Niccolo Polo
Character: Favino plays Maria's loyal butler Ferruccio in Maria.
Alba Rohrwacher as Bruna
Actor: Alba Rohrwacher, 45, is an Italian actress from Florence. She is best known for her roles in Hungry Hearts (2014), The Wonders (2014), and Sworn Virgin (2015). She recently starred as the Narrator in the Max series My Brilliant Friend (2018-2024). After appearing in several Italian films and television productions during the 2000s, she rose to prominence as Elisabetta Recchi in Luca Guadagnino's romantic drama I Am Love (2009) starring Tilda Swinton. She is set to appear in the upcoming untitled Noah Baumbach film alongside Adam Sandler, George Clooney, Laura Dern, and Riley Keough.
Notable Works:
Film/TV Series
Character
The Wonders
Angelica
I Am Love
Elisabetta Recchi
My Brilliant Friend
Narrator
Character: Alba Rohrwacher plays Bruna, Maria's maid, in Maria.
Maria's Supporting Cast & Characters
Haluk Bilginer as Aristotle Onassis: Bilginer is best known for Halloween and The Veil.
Stephen Ashfield as Jeffrey Tate: Ashfield is best known for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and The Devil's Hour.
Valeria Golino as Yakinthi Callas: Golino is best known for Rain Man and Portrait of a Lady on Fire.
Caspar Phillipson as JFK: Phillipson has played John F. Kennedy in several films such as Jackie and Maria.
Maria depicts the secluded life of opera diva Maria Callas in 1977 Paris as she battles declining health. Her solitude is disrupted by a proposal for a comeback tour, raising questions about her readiness to perform once more and the audience she might sing for.
Runtime 123 minutes
CastAngelina Jolie , Pierfrancesco Favino , Alba Rohrwacher , Haluk Bilginer , Kodi Smit-McPhee , Valeria Golino , Alessandro Bressanello , Stephen Ashfield , Vincent Macaigne , Lydia Korniordou , Rebecka Johnston , Philipp Droste , Zora Gerda Fejes , Kay Madsen , Toma Hrisztov
Character(s) Maria Callas , Ferruccio Mezzadri , Bruna Lupoli , Aristotle Onassis , Mandrax , Yakinthi 'Jackie' Callas , Giovanni Battista Meneghini , Voice Coach , Dr. Fointainebleau , Evangelia Dimitriadou , Uncredited , SS Officer , Fantasy Dancer , The Cameraman , Opera lover
Custom Image by Yailin Chacon
English (US) ·