People are buzzing about Angelina Jolie’s role as Maria Callas in the new Netflix biopic, Maria. In fact, Angelina has already earned a Golden Globe nom for it.
The movie follows the life of Greek-American opera singer Maria Callas as she moves to Paris after years in the public eye. The biopic is labeled as a “creative reimagining” of what this time was like in Callas’ life.
With all of the attention on the biopic, it’s understandable to wonder about the soprano’s life and what happened to her. Here’s what you need to know.
Maria struggled with body image her entire life.
Body image was a huge issue for Maria.
Her career began in 1947, when opera singers were expected to be overweight. But at
238 pounds, she reportedly felt miserable, per The Guardian. When the director Luchino Visconti told her she had to lose 66 pounds before he would work with her, she dropped a reported 88 pounds.
She wanted to look like Audrey Hepburn, who was known for her waifish appearance, according to History.
She was diagnosed with dermatomyositis.
Maria had dermatomyositis, a disease that involves muscle inflammation and a skin rash, per the U.S. National Library of Medicine. The condition causes symptoms like muscle weakness and soreness, problems swallowing, a skin rash, and shortness of breath. Dermatomyositis can also impact the vocal cords, and caused Maria to lose her powerful voice.
She struggled with addiction.
Maria suffered with addiction to several medications. In the 1950s, her husband connected her with a doctor who gave her “liquid vitamins,” which was a code phrase for speed, according to History.
Opera star Maria Callas and Greek shipping owner Aristotle Onassis at a party in 1960.
Maria eventually started dating Aristotle Onassis, who History says introduced her to pentobarbital and methaqualone/antihistamine—and she became addicted to both.
What happened to Maria Callas’ son?
Maria gave birth to a son named Omero Lengrini, who was her child with Aristotle Onassis, according to Tovima. The baby had severe respiratory problems and died a few hours after being born.
What happened to Maria Callas’ other pregnancy with Aristotle Onassis?
Maria had an affair with business magnate Aristotle Onassis, and continued to see him even after his marriage to Jackie Kennedy, according to Biography.
Aristotle’s driver, Yaikinto Rossa, said that his boss met with Maria once a month. “She was his true wife, though they never married,” Rossa said, per the Irish Independent.
Why did Maria Callas stop performing?
Maria stopped performing after struggling with her voice, according to English National Opera. That was likely due to overuse, her extreme weight loss, dermatomyositis, and addiction, per History.
But she also had changes in her personal life that may have contributed to it, according to the English National Opera.
Maria Callas with “Tosca” co-stars Tito Gobbi and Meneto Cioni at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London in July 1965
Maria’s final performance was in July 1965 in Tosca at Covent Garden. She was just 41 at the time.
What did Maria Callas pass away from?
Aristotle died in 1975, and Maria withdrew from public life afterward.
While it’s been said that she died of a broken heart, it’s more likely that her drug addiction and health issues contributed to her heart attack, per Biography.
Maria suffered a heart attack in September 1977, which killed her. She was cremated and her ashes were placed in the Père Lachaise Cemetery, per the English National Opera.
Her ashes were stolen and later recovered, before they were scattered over the Aegean Sea in 1979.
Korin Miller is a freelance writer specializing in general wellness, sexual health and relationships, and lifestyle trends, with work appearing in Men’s Health, Women’s Health, Self, Glamour, and more. She has a master’s degree from American University, lives by the beach, and hopes to own a teacup pig and taco truck one day.
