Angelina Jolie Makes "Barefoot" Return to Late Night After Decade Away to Talk Maria, The Outsiders

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Featuring Angelina Jolie

Episode Details:

• Title: Angelina Jolie Makes "Barefoot" Return to Late Night After Decade Away to Talk Maria, The Outsiders
• Host: Jimmy Fallon, NBC Universal
• Release Date: January 3, 2025

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Introduction

In this special flashback episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, host Jimmy Fallon welcomes acclaimed actress and producer Angelina Jolie back to late-night television after a decade-long hiatus. The episode delves into Jolie's recent accomplishments, her new film "Maria," and personal anecdotes about her life and family.

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Barefoot Appearance and Personal Anecdotes

The episode opens with a light-hearted exchange between Jimmy and Angelina:

• Jimmy Fallon (00:20): "I noticed that you're barefoot. Did you forget your shoes?"
• Angelina Jolie (00:28): "No, I broke my toe yesterday."

This casual banter sets a friendly tone, showcasing Jolie's down-to-earth personality despite her star status.

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Producing "The Outsiders" and Winning a Tony

Jimmy congratulates Jolie on her recent success in theatre:

• Jimmy Fallon (00:36): "I want to get into Maria. I want to talk about Maria Callas and what's up with the great job you did. But first, I want to congratulate you on winning a Tony. You produced The Outsiders. This is massive."

Jolie shares her motivations behind producing the play:

• Angelina Jolie (01:27): "I produced it because I saw an early workshop of it, and I loved it. And I loved what they were doing with it and the director and the composers and such a great job. I thought it was amazing. And my daughter also loved it."

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Being an Outsider: Personal Reflections

The conversation shifts to the theme of being an outsider, inspired by the play's title:

• Jimmy Fallon (01:22): "Don't worry about it. This is all be fine. Yeah."
• Angelina Jolie (01:53): "I think I was thinking, like, what it is to be an outsider, and I think that's just to be somebody who's comfortable with other people, maybe not understanding who you are or knowing what you do or you don't feel as understood or connected, but you know who you are and you're OK with that."
• Jimmy Fallon (02:22): "Yeah, I like that. Maybe I was a little bit. So it's a good thing your daughter worked with you on this production."

This discussion highlights Jolie's introspective nature and her understanding of individuality and acceptance.

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Family and Privacy

Jolie touches upon the dynamics of fame within her family:

• Jimmy Fallon (02:35): "Does any of your kids want to be on camera or behind the camera or in the."
• Angelina Jolie (02:46): "My kids, I think some of them off camera, behind the scenes, but they really, really want to be. Especially Shiloh would really like to be private."
• Jimmy Fallon (02:56): "Yeah. It just must get so tricky, because everyone's so famous."

Jolie emphasizes the importance of privacy for her children amidst their public lives.

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Debunking Career Rumors

Jimmy introduces a playful segment addressing internet rumors about Jolie's past career aspirations:

• Jimmy Fallon (03:11): "Is it true that prior to acting, you were studying to become a funeral director?"
• Angelina Jolie (03:43): "Yes. Doesn't it make sense, though? No. My grandfather died and I remembered thinking, this is not how they should be. This should be a celebration of life."

Jolie laughs off the rumor with genuine reasoning behind the misconception.

Moving forward, Jimmy explores other rumors:

• Jimmy Fallon (03:26): "Is it true that you consider becoming a pilot?"
• Angelina Jolie (04:21): "Yes, I'm a pilot."

Jolie confirms her piloting skills, adding a personal touch about her son's interest in aviation:

• Angelina Jolie (04:28): "And my son Matt is. Maddox is training to be a pilot now, too. He's actually. He is a pilot now."

Lastly, they address the myth about Jolie's comedic aspirations:

• Jimmy Fallon (04:56): "At one point, you considered trying standup?"
• Angelina Jolie (04:59): "That is definitely a no. I could deal with a funeral. I could deal with flying a plane 10,000ft in the air, but not what you do."

This segment showcases Jolie's versatility and clarifies misconceptions about her interests.

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Deep Dive into "Maria"

The heart of the interview focuses on Jolie's latest film, "Maria," a portrayal of the iconic opera singer Maria Callas.

Filming Locations and Production Insights

• Jimmy Fallon (05:31): "Was it all shot in Paris or was it all. Is it all different?"
• Angelina Jolie (05:36): "Some Paris, some Budapest, some Greece."

Jolie discusses the diverse filming locations that add authenticity to the film's setting.

Acting and Singing Challenges

Jolie candidly talks about stepping out of her comfort zone:

• Angelina Jolie (05:43): "No, I'd never sung before. And it was one of those, you know, you all have. Everybody's got something that makes them, you know, this is not something I can do. And I was pretty sure that was one of the things. I can't sing."
• Jimmy Fallon (06:02): "I can tap dance. Sure, why not? How long do you need me to tap dance?"
• Angelina Jolie (06:16): "I was so nervous, I had to learn how to sing because the director, the wonderful director, Pablo Lorraine, he sent me to singing Italian and many things for seven months. Because you can't fake sing opera."

Jolie shares the rigorous training regimen she underwent to authentically portray Callas, highlighting her dedication to her craft.

Jimmy's Praise and Observations

Jimmy appreciates Jolie's performance and the film's aesthetic:

• Jimmy Fallon (07:08): "I auditioned. I auditioned and I didn't get the part. Look at how this is phenomenal. ... You look like Maria Callas."

He compliments the film's visual and auditory elements, noting the accurate portrayal of Callas.

Reflection on the Film's Narrative

• Angelina Jolie (08:23): "If you look closely, it's a big opera, and it's based on a lot of the. She did many performances in many tragedies and many operas. ... The film is kind of an opera."

Jolie explains the film's structure, emphasizing its operatic storytelling and emotional depth.

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Conclusion and Film Promotion

As the interview wraps up, Jimmy promotes the film:

• Jimmy Fallon (07:44): "Maria is in select theaters now and comes to Netflix December 11th."

Angelina expresses her personal challenges with the interview format:

• Angelina Jolie (07:56): "Yes. The film is the Last Days, and it's her reflecting on her life. And I'm very bad at this."

Jimmy reassures her, reflecting the mutual respect and camaraderie between host and guest.

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Closing Remarks

The episode concludes with promotional information for listeners:

• Narrator (09:31): "Thanks for listening to the Tonight show starring Jimmy Fallon. Don't forget to subscribe to get the latest episodes weekday mornings..."

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Key Takeaways:

• Angelina Jolie makes a triumphant return to late-night television after ten years.
• She celebrates her Tony win for producing "The Outsiders."
• Jolie opens up about her personal life, emphasizing her children's desire for privacy.
• The episode debunks popular rumors about Jolie's alternative career paths.
• Jolie discusses her challenging yet rewarding experience filming "Maria," highlighting her growth as an actress.
• The film "Maria" receives high praise for its authentic portrayal of Maria Callas and its artistic execution.

Notable Quotes:

• Angelina Jolie (01:53): "I think that's just to be somebody who's comfortable with other people, maybe not understanding who you are or knowing what you do or you don't feel as understood or connected, but you know who you are and you're OK with that."
• Angelina Jolie (04:16): "That's great. I did not know that about you."
• Angelina Jolie (06:16): "I was so nervous, I had to learn how to sing because the director, the wonderful director, Pablo Lorraine, he sent me to singing Italian and many things for seven months."

This episode serves as an insightful exploration of Angelina Jolie's professional achievements and personal philosophies, offering fans and listeners a comprehensive look into her multifaceted life.

Transcript

[Narrator]

You're listening to a special Fallon flashback episode of the Tonight Show. And now, here he is, Jimmy Fallon.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Welcome to the show. Feel the love. Feel the love. Thank you for being here.

[Angelina Jolie]

Thank you.

[Jimmy Fallon]

I noticed that you're barefoot. Did you forget your shoes?

[Angelina Jolie]

No, I broke my toe yesterday.

[Jimmy Fallon]

You're kidding me.

[Angelina Jolie]

And I tried to find a comfortable shoe, but I just decided, no, you.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Don'T have to wear shoes. Yeah. Just be comfortable. We're just happy you're here. Yeah. Thank you for being here. I want to get into Maria. I want to talk about Maria Callis and what's up with the great job you did. But first, I want to congratulate you on winning a Tony. You produced the Outsider. This is massive. Here's the cast here we're lucky enough to have on our show. Here's them in action as well. What made you want to produce the Outsiders?

[Angelina Jolie]

Oh, well, it's. By the way, I get very nervous on talk shows. I get very uncomfortable. And I haven't done one for, like, a decade. And you know, this. I am so. This is so not my. This is so not my thing. No, it's not your thing.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Don't worry about it. This is all be fine. Yeah.

[Angelina Jolie]

I produced it because I saw an early workshop of it, and I loved it. And I loved what they were doing with it and the director and the composers and such a great job. I thought it was amazing. And my daughter also loved it.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Were you an outsider since growing up in school? Were you?

[Angelina Jolie]

Yes.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, I think. Yeah, I wasn't really an outsider. I was more of like a weirdo, probably, but I think.

[Angelina Jolie]

Were you. I thought you were a good outsider. Yeah, I think it's good to be an outsider. Yeah. I think I was thinking, like, what it is to be an outsider, and I think that's just to be somebody who's comfortable with other people, maybe not understanding who you are or knowing what you do or you don't feel as understood or connected, but you know who you are and you're OK with that.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, I like that. Maybe I was a little bit. So it's a good thing your daughter worked with you on this production. Does any of your kids want to be on camera or behind the camera or in the.

[Angelina Jolie]

My kids, I think some of them off camera, behind the scenes, but they really, really want to be. Especially Shiloh would really like to be private.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Just private?

[Angelina Jolie]

Just private. Just live your life. Not photographed, not on a thing. I think her most of all would like privacy.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. It just must get so Tricky, because everyone's so famous.

[Angelina Jolie]

Around them, but it wasn't their choice.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Correct? Absolutely. Yeah.

[Angelina Jolie]

No, Right. So some people are more comfortable with public. Some people are more comfortable on talk shows.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah.

[Angelina Jolie]

And some people are not.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yes. You are incredible. As I told you and Maria, congratulations on this. You're getting rave reviews. You're an incredible actor. But I saw some things online. I was wondering if I could ask you if these rumors are true of other careers that you might have had.

[Angelina Jolie]

Oh, no.

[Jimmy Fallon]

I'd be interested to see if any of these are real. Ok. Ok, first of all, is it true that prior to acting, you were studying to become a funeral director? Yes, that was the one I didn't think. A funeral director?

[Angelina Jolie]

Yeah.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Why? How?

[Angelina Jolie]

Doesn't it make sense, though? No. My grandfather died and I remembered thinking, this is not how they should be. This should be a celebration of life. And since I'm not afraid of death and I was comfortable with it, I thought this would be a great career path for me.

[Jimmy Fallon]

I could throw these parties.

[Angelina Jolie]

I could, like, make this better. I could do a thing here.

[Jimmy Fallon]

We need more people like that, you.

[Angelina Jolie]

Know, it shouldn't be that. It's my fallback career now.

[Jimmy Fallon]

That's great. I did not know that about you. Is it true that you consider becoming a pilot?

[Angelina Jolie]

Yes, I'm a pilot.

[Jimmy Fallon]

You are a pilot?

[Angelina Jolie]

I am.

[Jimmy Fallon]

See, I would guess who you would be, but I don't know why.

[Angelina Jolie]

And my son Matt is. Maddox is training to be a pilot now, too. He's actually. He is a pilot now.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Really? Of planes or helicopters or do they both count the same?

[Angelina Jolie]

No, they are different in part. Some of the licenses are the same.

[Jimmy Fallon]

So you can fly a plane right now. We had to just get out of here together.

[Angelina Jolie]

I got you. I got you.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Let's go to the Bahamas and do it up. Yeah. Finally. Is it true that you love standup comedy? At one point, you considered trying standup?

[Angelina Jolie]

That is definitely a no.

[Jimmy Fallon]

You. You would. No, you would not do that. No, no. But you love comedy. Yeah, but you would never.

[Angelina Jolie]

I could deal with a funeral. I could deal with flying a plane 10,000ft in the air, but not what you do.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Talking terrifies.

[Angelina Jolie]

No, I'm okay.

[Jimmy Fallon]

That's good to know. I gotta say, I love this movie. I saw it last week, I got a screening of it. I would go see it in theaters if you can see Maria, because the sound is gorgeous, the shots are beautiful. Was it all shot in Paris or was it all. Is it all different?

[Angelina Jolie]

Some Paris, some Budapest, some Greece.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Knockout. When you get that script, you go, yeah, I can do this. I could play with one of the greatest opera singers on earth.

[Angelina Jolie]

No, I'd never sung before. And it was one of those, you know, you all have. Everybody's got something that makes them, you know, this is not something I can do. And I was pretty sure that was one of the things. I can't sing. Yeah. But, you know, you're an actor, and so they ask you if you can do whatever you can do, and you say yes.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah, of course. Yeah. I can tap dance. Sure, why not? Yeah. How long do you need me to tap dance? And then they go, do it. And you go, do I really have to? Can we rent that out of the movie? You're phenomenal.

[Angelina Jolie]

Thank you.

[Jimmy Fallon]

As a singer, do you get. I mean, you're nervous on talk shows, but do you get nervous singing from.

[Angelina Jolie]

I was so nervous, I had to learn how to sing because the director, the wonderful director, Pablo Lorraine, he sent me to singing Italian and many things for seven months. Because you can't fake sing opera.

[Jimmy Fallon]

No.

[Angelina Jolie]

Which I didn't know.

[Jimmy Fallon]

You're like, I'm an actor. Leave me alone.

[Angelina Jolie]

Yes. And I thought in the beginning, I thought I had this great plan. I thought, I know what I'll do. I'll. It'll be a fun, like, start of the movie gift. I'll just buy everybody earplugs. And then it'll be my way of, like, clearing the space and not being as nervous. Yeah. But I didn't. I had to sing.

[Jimmy Fallon]

So I feel like I get more nervous in front of just, like, one person as opposed to a crowd. Like, I could, like, if I sing in front of, like, two people, I'd be like, nevermind. But if it's in front of everybody, I can be like, yeah, yeah, yeah, I can do it.

[Angelina Jolie]

Not bad.

[Jimmy Fallon]

I auditioned. I auditioned and I didn't get the part. Look at how this is phenomenal. I mean, really did a great job. How gorgeous this is. I think this is gonna be giant for the opera community, because it did remind me. I go, oh, I should go to Seymour Opera. This is the most beautiful thing. But also, I will say the wardrobe and hair and makeup department did a great job. You look like Maria Callas. I didn't realize this. At the end of the film, they show you photos of Maria, and it's so similar. I go, wow. I mean, it's not. I mean, you really knocked it out of the park. Congratulations on this.

[Angelina Jolie]

Thank you very much.

[Jimmy Fallon]

How do we. Angelina, how do we set up this film. It's the Last Days, Right. Of Marie Callas.

[Angelina Jolie]

Yes. The film is the Last Days, and it's her reflecting on her life. And I'm very bad at this.

[Jimmy Fallon]

No, that was. It is reflecting on her life.

[Angelina Jolie]

Does that sell a movie?

[Jimmy Fallon]

No. Well, when you see the clip, you'll see why it's great. But also, I think, you know, she's kind of reflecting on her life and interviewing herself. Talking to herself.

[Angelina Jolie]

Well, she's talking to her drugs.

[Jimmy Fallon]

She's talking to her drugs. It is true.

[Angelina Jolie]

It is true.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. Spoiler. But I got that.

[Angelina Jolie]

Which would be Quaaludes.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Yeah. It was Mandrax, right?

[Angelina Jolie]

Yeah. It's Quaaludes.

[Jimmy Fallon]

It's Quaaludes. And I go, oh, this is tricky. So she's just talking and going. Yeah. No. And then correcting herself and having a full conversation with herself kind of. It's fascinating.

[Angelina Jolie]

If you look closely, it's a big opera, and it's based on a lot of the. She did many performances in many tragedies and many operas. And so you don't have to know opera to understand the film or appreciate the film. But if you do know opera, you can understand that there's a lot of, you know, why things come at a certain time and how she's the sum of the tragedies that she played in her life. And the film is kind of an opera.

[Jimmy Fallon]

Angelina Jolie, everybody. Maria is in select theaters now and comes to Netflix December 11th. We'll be right back with more Tonight Show. Stick around.

[Narrator]

Thanks for listening to the Tonight show starring Jimmy Fallon. Don't forget to subscribe to get the latest episodes weekday mornings. Wherever you get your podcasts, Watch the Tonight show starring Jimmy Fallon weeknights on NBC and streaming on Peacock.