As the Maria Callas story Maria debuted on streaming platforms, viewers couldn’t divert their attention from the singer’s beauty portrayed by Angelina Jolie. Among other features, Maria Callas’ teeth left a lasting impact.
Soprano Maria Callas was adored by audiences worldwide, but they never knew her life away from the spotlight. The opera singer had gone through a series of abuse, substance violation, and disregarding relationships from a young age.
After Netflix picked up her story, fans were hopeful they would get a look inside her tragic life. Jolie played the role perfectly in addressing each of the singer’s struggles.
Maria Callas, December 2, 1923 – September 16, 1977
— La femme merveilleuse invisible (@larwoolf) December 2, 2024
With Pier Paolo Pasolini in Naples, September 1970 pic.twitter.com/MMEBfNAIbv
Being in the industry for decades, Callas has seen its merry and dark sides. The singer was 13 when her parents separated, and she became homeless.
Callas stayed in Athens with her mother and older sister, Jackie. The family struggled to make ends meet while hiding away in refugee camps. Soon after the war, Callas returned to New York and worked three jobs.
At the same time, she struggled with her relationship and her weight. Reports suggest that the singer once weighed 200 pounds. Her then-partner, Giovanni Battista Meneghini, stated, “When I first met her, she was fat, clumsy, dressed like a dog.“
Y’all 😍❤️ Angelina Jolie as Maria Callas — magnifique wunderbar spektakulär — I’m so happy for her — what a film pic.twitter.com/n7MqLMdSd3
— JoliePurr (@jolie_purr) December 5, 2024
Following a drift in her relationship, Callas started her harmful use of iodine injections. Such habits made Maria Callas lose seven stones, leading to extensive plastic surgery and capped teeth.
Within years, the singer had lost over 88 pounds and turned to substance abuse until her final moments. However, a change in appearance came in handy in the industry that praised well-kept skinny women.
Many swooned over her capped teeth, which helped her have an exaggerated smile. Even in the Netflix biopic, Angelina Jolie has kept the mannerism close to the singer, including the infectious smile.
Maria Callas lost her voice and lived her last days contemplating self-harm!
Regardless of her glamorous life, Callas had her fair share of health issues, mainly due to her irresponsible behavior.
Her first husband tried to file a case against the singer for divorcing him. As the process was illegal in Italy, Meneghini demanded 50% royalties from her worldwide shows.
Further, Callas searched for a perfect partner and crossed paths with Aristotle Onassis. However, the relationship didn’t go well as her partner was alcoholic and abusive. The constant stress made the singer collapse on stage in Paris.
Years into their bond, Callas learned about her partner’s affair but continued to work in his shadows. Meanwhile, Onassis paints himself as the victim and proves Callas wrong in front of the media.
After his demise, the singer began rebuilding her life and revealed that she had undergone two miscarriages. Callas began using Mandrax despite knowing about its data’s effects on her health.
Unfortunately, in the 1960s, Callas began to feel her voice falter and performed her last show at 41. Many assumed that her weight loss and neuromuscular disorder were to blame.
Despite the diagnosis, the singer refused to take proper medication and voice rehabilitation classes. Doctors described her as a “crazy woman,” who was inviting her demise.
During her final moments, Maria Callas expressed regret for her life. She stated, “I’ve lost everything. My voice is done, it seems. I don’t have a man; I don’t have children. Isn’t it funny?“
Additional Information
- Maria Callas took her last breath on September 16, 1977, at the age of 53. Her last days were spent watching television while spiraling in substance. She suffered from a heart attack after a fluctuation in blood pressure.
- Angelina Jolie underwent an intensive seven-month vocal training to sing as close to Callas as possible. The actress had singing training in Italian and French.
