Angelina Jolie: "Playing Maleficent was a dream come true"

How were you involved in the making of the film?

I loved Maleficent when I was little. He was my favorite Disney character. I was both scared and in love with her, so as soon as I heard there was going to be a movie about her I started asking around. Luckily I was called: I was super excited!

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How does it feel to bring such an iconic character to life?

It was almost terrifying at first, just because I'm a huge fan. I was thrilled but at the same time scared of not being able to find the right voice to give to the character, being so charismatic and well defined. Maleficent is so authoritarian and perfect in the original animated version that I didn't want to modify it in any way, so as not to disappoint the fans. When I first donned the horns and was able to hold the scepter, I felt like a child making a dream come true.

What's new and different about this version of Maleficent's story?

The story focuses on her, who she was as a child, and how and why she got bad. And one of the things that I think is stranger is that unlike the animated version, when it comes to the scene where the fairies find themselves bringing gifts for Aurora's birth, the audience feels on Maleficent's side.

How would you describe Maleficent?

She is a little crazy, evil but extremely energetic. She has a great sense of humor, which she never fails at the right moment. It is a bit strange at first, especially with the stage clothes, but I was really happy to be chosen to play her.

Which aspect of Maleficent's personality appeals to you the most? And which one less?

What I like least is easy: the fact that he curses a little girl. I think it would be the least valuable thing of any person. What I like most is the fact that you see his strength, his loyalty and his ability to stand up for what he believes in. She has an enormous sense of justice, even if she loses it when she is hurt deeply (and not only).

How challenging was it to recreate Maleficent's make-up look?

It took a long time. We sat down and tried a lot of things - and I'm sure some pictures of the discarded looks will come out sooner then. In the end we decided that we didn't want the make-up to be too distracting, especially during the more dramatic scenes, and we opted for the option that masked my face less.

What do you think of Elle Fanning's portrayal of Princess Aurora?

Elle is exactly how I imagined Aurora. Elle is sunny, intelligent, beautiful in short. When I was 14 I was her opposite and seeing such a young girl equally full of life really blew my mind. She is a very knowledgeable actress and she is a very strong person. All of this makes her interpretation of Aurora wonderful, because she is not only a little girl who loves flowers, beautiful things and tranquility, but she is also elegant and extremely loving.

What struck you most about his interpretation?

Elle is capable of making her character magical, because she is primarily the one who has something magical about her personality, which shines through when she plays Aurora.

Do you see similarities between you and Elle Fanning?

Yes, Elle and I are quite similar women. He is a lovely person. Of course, when I was her age I was very different - let's say I was more like teenage Maleficent than teenage Elle. Elle is radiant, sunny, charming and always smiling.

How do you think the public will relate to the young Maleficent?

She is an innocent young woman. There are many young people today who are passionate about environmental causes, world facts or politics. Here, Maleficent in a sense is like that. And then it is strange, different from the others, which I think is one of the feelings that mostly all adolescents share. She gets hurt by someone she particularly cared about: who hasn't happened to in life? And then he teaches. It teaches that what makes the difference in life are the choices you make and how you live once they are made.

How would you describe Maleficent's journey in the film?

Maleficent is emotionally defeated, but decides to fight back. The decision makes her darker, darker: it makes her completely lose humanity, which she must learn, little by little, to rediscover. I didn't think interpreting it would be so difficult, it was more emotional than I expected.