Gallic thespian and all round beauty Eva Green is reportedly in talks to play iconic American-born Greek soprano Maria Callas in an English language biopic of the singer.
Nicknamed La Divina, Callas was one of the most renowned opera singers of her time having overcome an overbearing mother and difficult childhood in New York to receive musical education in Greece and eventually make a name for herself in Italy. There, she quickly become famous for a remarkably versatile voice, difficult to even place in the modern age’s classification system and found her way not only on stage but on screen as well, where she exhibited a talent for the dramatic arts.
Callas is also known for her many controversies including a reported rivalry with fellow soprano Renata Tebaldi; a love affair with shipping magnate Artistotle Onassis (who went on to leave her for Jacqueline Kennedy) and a staggering weight loss which many believe to be a catalyst for a vocal decline in later years. Callas passed away in 1997 but was posthumously awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007.
It’ll be an interesting role for Green to take and one that will no doubt provide the biggest challenge of her career which has predominantly seen her cast as the leading lady. The actress will next be seen in David MacKenzie’s newly-retitled end-of-days love tale “Perfect Sense” along side Ewan McGregor and apparently has a Robert Capa biopic in the works which may or may not be the same one Michael Mann is developing.
Interestingly, the Callas project further continues Hollywood’s love affair of developing pairs of similar projects together. Green’s film joins a previously-announced Nick Wechsler produced biopic with Eva Mendes as the iconic singer in “Greek Fire.” The film will focus on the volatile love affair between the opera singer and Aristotle Onassis and has a script by Julian Fellowes
Green’s project is being produced by Italian DeAngelis Group (DAP), British producer partner Future Films as well as crystal producer Swarovski, whose brand of jewelery was a personal favorite of Callas’.