Angelina Jolie Recalls Being 'Shaky' Her 'First Time Singing' for Maria. How Her Sons Helped Her Nerves

Angelina Jolie hit the ground running at the Venice Film Festival, giving more insight into her upcoming film Maria.

During a press conference ahead of the movie's premiere on Thursday, Aug. 29, the Oscar-winning actress opened up about preparing for the role of opera singer Maria Callas, admitting she had her fair share of nerves but was able to power through thanks to the help of some people very close to her.

"I was terribly nervous; I spent almost seven months training," said Jolie, 49. "My first time singing, I remember being so nervous. My sons were there and they helped to block the door [so] that nobody else was coming in, and I was shaky."

"And [director Pablo Larraín], in his decency, started me in a small room and ended me in La Scala," she added. "So he gave me time to grow. I was frightened to live up to [Callas]."

Asked later in the press conference if she has a favorite karaoke song to do, the actress quipped, "I didn't sing before this [movie] so I haven't done karaoke, but now maybe I have a few!"

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human-interest stories.

Maria is based on true accounts of Callas' life and career and will go in depth about the beautiful and tragic story of the singer, who is renowned as one of the greatest opera stars of all time.

Larraín, 48, continues his biographical filmmaking after having Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana in Spencer and Natalie Portman as former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis in Jackie, and he hopes to continue the success with Jolie in Maria.

“I am incredibly excited to start production on Maria, which I hope will bring Maria Callas' remarkable life and work to audiences all around the world, thanks to the magnificent script by Steven Knight, the work of the entire cast and crew, and especially, Angelina’s brilliant work and extraordinary preparation,” the director previously said in a statement.

The PEOPLE Puzzler crossword is here! How quickly can you solve it? Play now!

Maria will mark Jolie’s return to the big screen after last starring in 2021's superhero flick Eternals.

Jolie expressed her and her children's excitement for the Marvel film back in 2021, but later told Vogue in September 2023 that she was currently “in transition as a person,” adding, “I feel a bit down these days. I don’t feel like I’ve been myself for a decade."

During the Thursday press conference at Venice, she said, "I've needed to be home more with my family these last years, and in that time, I've maybe become more grateful to have the opportunity to ... be in this creative world that we are all fortunate to be a part of."

The Venice Film Festival runs from Aug. 28 to Sept. 7.