Angelina Jolie graced the premiere of the biographical film about Maria Callas at the 81st Venice Film Festival, adorned in iconic Cartier jewelry that added a touch of elegance to her portrayal.
The film, titled Maria, is directed by Pablo Larraín and stars Jolie as the legendary soprano Maria Callas. Set in the 1970s, it explores the final years of Callas’s life, capturing the essence of a woman who lived from the 1920s to the 1970s and poured her heart into her voice, life, and passion. Jolie expressed her deep connection to Callas, saying, “It was truly moving to wear a Cartier piece that she once owned and used. I chose to wear it in a very important scene where she is with her sister and facing many painful truths. Using such high-quality jewelry in the film added a very special and fitting touch for Maria. She was an incredibly elegant woman.”
Working closely with the film’s costume designer, Massimo Cantini Parrini, Jolie crafted outfits that enhanced her performance, but it was the exquisite jewelry from Cartier that truly helped her embody Callas. Throughout her life, Callas amassed a stunning collection of fine jewelry, with one of her most iconic pieces being the Panthère brooch, designed in 1971. This striking brooch features Cartier’s signature gold panther with emerald eyes, elegantly perched atop a carved white chalcedony gemstone.
Pierre Rainero, Director of Image, Style, and Heritage at Cartier, remarked on the significance of the jewelry, stating, “Like many other important women of that era, Maria Callas chose Cartier to express her personality through jewelry. When thinking about the connection between Maria Callas and the Maison, I am reminded of a quote from another talented woman, Mexican actress María Félix: ‘Cartier has always been known as the jeweler of royalty—not only by blood but also by talent.’”
At the premiere, Angelina Jolie wore both the Panthère brooch and a stunning rose brooch, each reflecting Callas’s unique style. The rose brooch, crafted from gold, platinum, diamonds, emeralds, sapphires, and rubies, features a distinctive mechanism that allows the petals to open and close, symbolizing the beauty and complexity of Callas’s life.
As Maria captivates audiences with its portrayal of an extraordinary artist, Jolie’s choice of Cartier jewelry not only enhances her performance but also pays homage to the legacy of Maria Callas, a true icon of elegance and talent.