Spoiler Alert: This article contains spoilers for Maria.
The new Netflix biopic, Maria, explores her connection to a former US First Lady and their silent, long-lasting feud. Directed by Pablo Larraín, the movie focuses on the American-Greek soprano singer, Maria Callas; set in the 1970s, Callas moves to Paris where she reflects on her life in the spotlight. The movie stars Angelina Jolie in her first movie in three years, and looks at Callas striving to keep hold of her voice, but cannot accept that she has lost the talent that made her famous.
Maria premiered at the 81st Venice International Film Festival and received praise for its casting, screenplay, and directing. In particular, Angelina Jolie received acclaim for her performance as the titular character, which many believe has made her a leading contender for the Best Actress Award at the upcoming Oscars in 2025. While providing insight into the opera singer's professional career, Maria also looks into Callas' troubled relationship with business magnate, Aristotle Onassis, which led to issues between her and Onassis' second wife, Jacqueline Kennedy, which lasted for nearly two decades.
Aristotle Onassis Reportedly Left Maria Callas For Jackie Kennedy After JFK's Death In The 1960s
Aristotle Onassis and Jackie Kennedy Married In 1968
The cast of Maria includes Haluk Bilginer, who appears as Maria Callas' lover, Aristotle Onassis. Throughout the movie, in a black-and-white flashback, the singer reflects on how she met Onassis in 1957, at a party "thrown in her honor." Upon their initial meeting, Onassis described the party to Callas as a "business strategy" but then "he fell in love with her." Despite being married to Giovanni Meneghini at the time, Callas began an affair with Onassis in 1959 after joining him on a cruise aboard Onassis' yacht, Christina; their relationship lasted until 1968 (via History).
The relationship between Callas and Onassis was described as tumultuous, with rumors of violence and drug use (via The Guardian). Callas became pregnant twice throughout the 1960s, but suffered miscarriages; Onassis was reportedly not interested in starting a family with Callas (via Biography). A reported abortion in 1966 further contributed to the deterioration of their relationship (via UPI).
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By 1963, Onassis was setting his sights on Jackie Kennedy in the aftermath of JFK's assassination and invited her on a cruise aboard The Christina in 1968. Onassis had previously brought Kennedy on a cruise to help her recover from the loss of her son, Patrick (via HarpersBazaar). It was during the 1968 cruise that Onassis proposed marriage to Kennedy, who accepted; Kennedy feared for the safety of her children after her husband and brother-in-law's assassinations and knew Onassis could provide security for them. Onassis abruptly ended his relationship with Callas and married Kennedy on October 20, 1968.
Maria Callas & Jackie Kennedy Never Met, But Kennedy Saw Her Perform
Kennedy Saw Callas Perform At The Metropolitan Gala In 1965
Throughout Maria, the famed singer reflects on her successful opera career and the slow decline of her relationship with Onassis. Although she doesn't appear in the movie, Jackie Kennedy is referred to by Onassis in a black-and-white flashback. During a party, Onassis spots John F. Kennedy arriving; Onassis says "Have you seen his wife? Man, phwoar!" before leaving Callas to approach the president. This statement gives viewers a subtle hint towards Onassis later leaving Callas for Jackie Kennedy. Callas' somber expression displays her awareness that Onassis is growing bored with her.
Pablo Larraín, director of Maria , also directed the 2016 biopic, Jackie , which focused on the life of Jacqueline Kennedy. The movie received 3 Oscar nominations, including Best Actress for Natalie Portman as Kennedy.
Callas expressed anger at Onassis' marriage to Jackie Kennedy and later spoke of Kennedy dismissively in 1974, saying in an interview "I don't know her. I've never met her." (via Irish Independent). While the two women never met, Jackie Kennedy did watch Maria Callas perform in the Giacomo Puccini opera, Tosca, at the Metropolitan Opera in 1965. The event was Kennedy's first public appearance since her husband's assassination and was also considered Callas' comeback performance at the Met since her 1958 feud with the venue (via Town and Country Magazine).
Maria Callas Continued To See Aristotle Onassis While He Was Married To Jackie
Callas and Onassis Continued To See Each Other Until Onassis' Death In 1975
In spite of his marriage to Jackie Kennedy, Aristotle Onassis could not let go of Maria Callas; within weeks of his wedding, he was trying to rekindle his relationship with Callas (via Daily Mail). While Callas initially refused to forgive Onassis, she slowly allowed him back into her life, and he paid for her apartment in Paris (via Man and Culture Magazine). Jackie Kennedy was aware of her husband's re-connection with Callas, but according to her sister-in-law, Artemis Garofallidou, "although she knew many things about Aristo’s behavior, she was pretending that nothing happened" (via People.)
In an emotional scene, Onassis confirmed his love for Callas, stating he'd make sure " to have two canvas chairs " in Athens for them both.
The movie shows how Maria Callas was forced to deal with the loss of her voice and the eventual loss of Onassis to respiratory failure in 1975; it is shown that Callas visited Onassis in hospital while he was dying. In an emotional scene, Onassis confirmed his love for Callas, stating he'd make sure "to have two canvas chairs" in Athens for them both. Although neither Callas nor Jackie Kennedy were present at Onassis' death, he kept Callas' last gift with him at the hospital (via New York Times.)
When later walking with Mandrax in the movie, Callas reveals to him how she avoided Kennedy at the hospital and says that "even in death, I was the secret" in their complicated relationship. Mandrax poignantly states that while Jackie Kennedy married Onassis, Callas "was his life.. As seen throughout Maria, the singer's unwilling connection to Jackie Kennedy through her marriage to Aristotle Onassis and their silent feud played a significant impact on her life until her eventual death in 1977.
Sources: History, The Guardian, Biography, UPI, HarpersBazaar, Irish Independent, Town and Country Magazine, Daily Mail, Man and Culture Magazine, People, New York Times
Release Date February 12, 2025
Runtime 123 minutes
Director Pablo Larraín
Writers Steven Knight
English (US) ·