Angelina Jolie honored with Maltin Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival
SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Angelina Jolie was honored with the Maltin Modern Master Award at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival on Wednesday evening.
Jolie is one of a select group of actors to receive the prestigious award, named after longtime SBIFF moderator and renowned film critic Leonard Maltin.
Maltin said he was honored to present the award to Jolie, calling her a "very daring performer and a very daring director," adding that "she takes on tough subjects and masters them."
Established in 1995, the award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the film industry and enriched culture through their work. Past recipients include Nicole Kidman, Javier Bardem, Robert Downey Jr., Denzel Washington, and Cate Blanchett.
Jolie, who first rose to prominence in the late 1990s with films such as Gia and Girl, Interrupted—the latter earning her an Academy Award—continues to captivate audiences. "My mother would write letters to my characters. 'Dear Gia. Dear Lisa Rowe. Dear Lara Croft,'" Jolie recalled during the festival.
Jolie portrays acclaimed opera singer Maria Callas in the film Maria. For the role, she trained extensively in opera singing.
Much like her character reflecting on her life in the days before her death, Jolie spoke about pivotal moments in her own life. When asked what those moments were, she responded, "I'm not there yet. Maybe when I'm dying, I'll find them out."
