Penélope Cruz Could Play María Callas

Actress Penélope Cruz might play the role of the soprano María Callas in a film by Italian director Guido de Angelis, based on the book Very Arrogant, Very Fragile, by Alfonso Signorini.

According to the director's statements to the Italian media Sonrissi e canzoni, the role would be ideal for the Spanish actress, 33.

The author of the book, which goes on sale tomorrow in Italy, couldn't agree more: “Penélope would be the perfect Callas…She's not only a great actress, but she has enough passion within herself to play both the María and the Callas, meaning the woman and the artist,” Signorini explains.

The soprano María Callas is considered the last great diva of show. Known as La Divina, her life was full of contrasts. Behind the stage strength and an arrogant façade was a fragile woman who “died of love” after being betrayed by the tycoon Aristotle Onassis, who abandoned her for Jacqueline Kennedy.

Callas was also the inspiration for the film Callas Forever, by Franco Zefirelli, and the play Master Class, by Terrence McNally, whose Spanish version starring Diana Bracho was praised by the author. As for this play, actress Faye Dunaway is working on a project to bring it to the big screen.