Cast of Maria

The 2024 biographical psychological drama film Maria was written by Steven Knight and directed by Pablo Larraín.

After Jackie (2016) and Spencer (2021), it is the third installment of Larraín's trilogy about significant women from the 20th century. Angelina Jolie plays opera singer Maria Callas in the movie, which centers on her reflections on her life and career over the seven days leading up to her death in Paris in 1977. The film's supporting cast includes Pierfrancesco Favino, Alba Rohrwacher, Haluk Bilginer, Stephen Ashfield, Valeria Golino, and Kodi Smit-McPhee.

The film debuted on August 29, 2024, at the 81st Venice International Film Festival, where it was a Golden Lion contender. Critics gave it mostly favorable reviews, praising Jolie's acting in particular. It debuted in a few U.S. cinemas on November 27, 2024, and was made available on Netflix on December 11. Before its February 6 release in Germany by StudioCanal, it was first shown in theaters in Italy on January 1, 2025, by 01 Distribution.

Cast of Maria

Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas

The American actress, filmmaker, and humanitarian Angelina Jolie portrays Maria Callas in the film. Aggelina Papadopoulou portrays young Maria Callas in 1940, Lídia Zelikman Kauders plays young Maria in 1930, and Christiana Aloneftis plays young Maria in 1947.

The real-life Maria Callas Commendatore OMR, a Greek soprano of American descent, was one of the most well-known and significant opera singers of the 20th century. Her dramatic interpretations, broad range, and bel canto technique were praised by numerous critics. In her early career, she performed Wagner's music dramas, Verdi's and Puccini's compositions, and traditional opera seria, as well as the bel canto operas of Donizetti, Bellini, and Rossini. Known as La Divina ("The Divine One"), she was praised for her musical and theatrical abilities. Callas died on September 16, 1977, at the age of 53, from a heart attack after spending the majority of her final years in isolation in Paris.

Pierfrancesco Favino as Ferruccio

The Italian actor and director Perfrancesco Favino portrays Ferruccio, Maria's loyal butler, in the film.

Favino started his acting career on stage before moving to television and film in the 1990s. He received plenty of praise in Italy for his breakout performance in the highly acclaimed movie El Alamein: The Line of Fire. Several honors have been bestowed upon him, including a Volpi Cup, two Globi d'Oro, three Ciak d'Oro, five Nastri d'argento, and three David di Donatello.

Alba Rohrwacher as Bruna

The Italian actress Alba Rohrwacher portrays Bruna, Maria's loyal housemaid, in the film.

Alba Caterina Rohrwacher is an Italian actress who began acting in 2004 in L'amore ritrovato. She received the David di Donatello Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2008. She won the 2009 David di Donatello Award for Best Actress for her role in Giovanna's Father by Pupi Avati. She received the Shooting Stars Award at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.

Haluk Bilginer as Aristotle Onassis

The Turkish actor Haluk Bilginer portrays Aristotle Onassis, Maria's former partner, in the film.

Nihat Haluk Bilginer is a Turkish actor who began his acting career in the television show EastEnders as Mehmet Osman in June 1985. Bilginer's performance in Şahsiyet (2018) earned him the 47th International Emmy Award for Best Actor. He has also acted in Hollywood films, such as the 2018 film Halloween.

Kodi Smit-McPhee as Mandrax

The Australian actor Kodi Smit-McPhee portrays Mandrax, Maria's hallucination in the form of a young filmmaker, in the film.

Kodi Smit-McPhee gained fame as a child actor for his leading roles in The Road (2009) and Let Me In (2010). He voiced the title character in ParaNorman (2012) and made appearances in Dark Phoenix (2019), Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (2014), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), and Alpha (2018).

Valeria Golino as Yakinthi Callas

The Italian actress and filmmaker Valeria Golino portrays Yakinthi Callas, Maria's older sister, in the film. Erofili Panagiotarea plays the young Yakinthi Callas.

Valeria Golino is best known for her roles in Rain Man, Big Top Pee-wee, and Hot Shots!, where she performed the "olive-in-the-belly-button" scene. Along with the David di Donatello, Nastro d'Argento, Ciak d'Oro, and Globo d'Oro honors, she is one of only four actresses to have won the Venice Film Festival's Best Actress award twice.

Caspar Phillipson as John F. Kennedy

The Danish actor and singer Casper Philipson portrays John F. Kennedy, in the film.

Caspar Phillipson is a Danish singer and actor who mainly appears in Scandinavian projects as a voice actor and on stage and cinema. Phillipson's most well-known role was that of John F. Kennedy in the 2016 movie Jackie. Phillipson only makes a brief appearance in Jackie, yet his likeness to Kennedy is well known. Since then, Phillipson has played Kennedy in several other motion pictures, such as the TV show Project Blue Book and the movies Blonde (2022) and Hammarskjöld (2023).

Suzie Kennedy as Marilyn Monroe

The English actress Suzie Kennedy portrays Marilyn Monroe in the film.

English comedian, singer, and actress Suzie Kennedy is a dual citizen of the United States and Great Britain. She is famous for her work as an impersonator and Marilyn Monroe lookalike.

Stephen Ashfield as Jeffrey Tate

The Scottish actor Stephen Ashfield portrays Jeffrey Tate in the film.

Stephen Ashfield was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and has had a prosperous theatrical career since graduating from the Royal Academy of Music in London and the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. He received a Fellowship (FRAM) in the 2018 honors list and was appointed an Associate (ARAM) of the Royal Academy of Music in 2011. He is an Olivier Award-winning actor.

Here are the other cast members with supporting roles in the film:

• Vincent Macaigne as Dr. Fontainebleau
• Lydia Koniordou as Litsa Callas
• Alessandro Bressanello as Giovanni Battista Meneghini