How did a 17-year-old singer from Greece end up in a film with one of Hollywood’s biggest stars? For Aggelina Papadopoulou, her journey to playing young Maria Callas in Pablo Larraín’s “Maria” began with an intriguing request to her music school in Athens.
The casting call sought female singers aged 17 to 22 with brown hair who could resemble the iconic American-Greek soprano Maria Callas. With minimal information, hopefuls like Papadopoulou hastily submitted their auditions. “We had less than a day to prepare the two songs I perform in the movie,” she told Variety before the Greek premiere of “Maria,” the opening film at the Thessaloniki Film Festival.
The whirlwind process saw Papadopoulou securing the role in under three weeks. “It was fast for me, but they searched extensively in countries like Greece, Spain, and Italy because Pablo wanted someone with Mediterranean features,” she explains. “They considered thousands of actresses.”
Despite her inexperience in film, acting felt natural for Papadopoulou, whose father is actor Nikos Papadopoulos. However, she was unaware of the project’s scale until arriving in Budapest for filming. She could only reveal her participation on the day of its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival.
“It was a surprise to learn that the film featured Angelina Jolie. I couldn’t believe it at first,” Papadopoulou shares. “Opportunities like this are rare in Greece, especially for international productions.”
Papadopoulou and Jolie, who plays Callas in adulthood, filmed together briefly but shared a memorable first meeting. “She passed by my room and came back to greet me warmly. I had thought of her as unapproachable, like Callas. They share that aura,” she reflects.
Jolie’s son, Maddox Jolie-Pitt, was also present in Budapest, working on the crew. Papadopoulou fondly recalls forming a friendship with him. “We still keep in touch,” she notes. “He informed me that Angelina would attend the film’s premiere in London, and I hope to reunite with him on a red carpet.”
The role challenged Papadopoulou, particularly in portraying Callas’ troubled youth under a domineering mother. “Capturing Maria’s emotional state was tough because these were real experiences,” she says. “Pablo (Larraín) has a daughter my age and couldn’t fathom such things happening to her.”
Papadopoulou appreciates Larraín’s decision to cast a Greek actress as young Callas. “They found a talented singer in the U.S., but Pablo valued having a Greek portray her. Callas means so much to Greece, with theaters named after her,” she says. “I think she’d appreciate being played by a fellow Greek.”
Having grown up with Callas’ music, Papadopoulou shares a touching memory about her casting. “My mother has had a Callas poster outside her music school for over 15 years. When I got the role, she said, ‘I knew Maria Callas would become part of our lives.’ She’s thrilled and supportive.”
Excited for the film’s Greek release, Papadopoulou expresses her eagerness. “Maria Callas is a national icon, and people have anticipated the film. I’m proud of our work and anxious to hear my countrymen’s thoughts,” she concludes.
