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Monica Barbaro

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Monica Barbaro
Monica Barbaro at the London premiere of A Complete Unknown in 2025
Barbaro at the London premiere of
A Complete Unknown in 2025
Born
Monica Maria Barbaro

(1990-06-17) June 17, 1990 (age 36)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
EducationNew York University (BFA)
OccupationActress
Years active2012–present

Monica Maria Barbaro (/ˈbɑːrbəroʊ/;[1] born June 17, 1990) is an American actress, known for her work on stage and screen. She has received two nominations for an Actor Award and one nomination for an Academy Award.

She started her career in television, taking supporting roles in Unreal (2016), Chicago P.D. (2016–2017), Chicago Justice (2017), The Good Cop (2018), and Splitting Up Together (2018–2019) with a leading role in the Netflix action comedy series FUBAR (2023–2025)

Barbaro made her feature film debut in the independent film The Cathedral (2021). She portrayed Joan Baez in the Bob Dylan-biopic A Complete Unknown (2024) earning a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She has also acted in the action films Top Gun: Maverick (2022) and Crime 101 (2026) as well as the romantic comedies At Midnight (2023) and One Night Only (2026).

On stage, she acted in the West End revival of the Christopher Hampton play Les Liaisons Dangereuses (2025) at the Royal National Theatre.

Early life

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Barbaro was born on June 17, 1990,[2][3][4] to Heidi (née Wagner) and Nicholas Barbaro. She has a sister, Eva, and a brother, Michael.[5][2][3] Barbaro's father is Italian American, and her mother is of Mexican, German, and Nicaraguan descent.[6] Her parents divorced when she was a child.[7] Barbaro was born in San Francisco and grew up in Mill Valley, California, where she graduated from Tamalpais High School in 2007.[3][7]

Barbaro started dancing at an early age and went on to study ballet. While taking electives in acting, she completed a degree in dance at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts in New York City.[8]

After graduating in 2010, she decided to pursue acting and returned to San Francisco. There, she booked a commercial and a short film, connected with an agent,[9] and attended the Beverly Hills Playhouse acting school.[7]

Career

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2013–2021: Rise to prominence

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Barbaro gained attention in 2013 for her lead role in It's Not About the Nail, a viral comedy short about communication in a marriage.[10][11] Her first major television role was portraying the character of Yael on the second season of the Lifetime television series UnREAL.[12] Following UnREAL, Barbaro joined the cast of NBC legal drama Chicago Justice, an entry in Dick Wolf's Chicago franchise,[13] in which she portrayed Anna Valdez.[14] In 2018, Barbaro also played Cora Vasquez on Netflix's The Good Cop, alongside Josh Groban and Tony Danza. Between 2018 and 2019, Barbaro had a recurring part in the ABC sitcom Splitting Up Together.[15]

2022–2025: Career breakthrough

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In the 2022 blockbuster Top Gun: Maverick starring Tom Cruise, Barbaro portrayed Lieutenant Natasha "Phoenix" Trace, a naval aviator.[16] The film was a critical and financial success and went on to earn a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Picture.[17] The following year, Barbaro starred in the romantic comedy At Midnight (2023). The film received mixed reviews for its story but Barbaro earned acclaim for her performance. San Francisco Chronicle declared "Barbaro...proves with seemingly effortless charm that she can carry a rom-com".[18] Barbaro, a professional dancer, was able to lend her talents in a scene that involved the two leads dancing a combination of salsa and the tango.[19]

From 2023 to 2025 she starred in the Netflix action comedy series FUBAR alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger.[20] In 2024, she played activist and folk singer Joan Baez in the James Mangold-directed Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, starring Timothée Chalamet.[21] Barbaro took singing and guitar lessons to prepare for this role.[22] David Rooney of The Hollywood Reporter praised her performance writing, "Barbaro sings like an angel, her voice rich, clear and expressive. She gives the character the radiant self-possession of a woman who never loses sight of who she is". He also cited her and Chalamet's duets in the film as being the "standout musical moments".[23] For her performance, she received multiple accolades, including nominations for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress and the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role.[24][25]

She was included in Time magazine's Time 100 Next list in 2025.

2026–present

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She made her stage debut in 2026 acting in a West End revival of the French play Les Liaisons dangereuses at the National Theatre. She starred opposite Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner, with direction by Marianne Elliott.[26] Dominic Maxwell of The Times noted Barbaro's "flawless English voice" and added that her performance is "one of the evening’s hits".[27]

That same year she starred in the romantic comedy One Night Only opposite Callum Turner.[28] Also in 2026, she is set to portray Mira Murati in the Luca Guadagnino directed biographical drama Artificial starring alongside Andrew Garfield as Sam Altman.[29] In June 2026, she was cast in the Untitled Ocean's Eleven prequel opposite Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper.[30]

Personal life

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Since early 2025, Barbaro has been in a relationship with actor Andrew Garfield.[31][32]

Acting credits

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Film

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Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2013 Bullish Eva
2021 The Cathedral Lydia Damrosch
2022 Top Gun: Maverick Natasha "Phoenix" Trace
I'm Charlie Walker Peggy
2023 At Midnight Sophie Wilder
2024 A Complete Unknown Joan Baez Also performed 7 songs for its soundtrack
2026 Crime 101 Maya [33]
One Night Only Allie [34]
Artificial † Mira Murati Post-production [35]
2027 Untitled Ocean's Eleven prequel † Filming [36]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2015 Stitchers Brenda 'Bentley' Miller Episode: "The Root of All Evil"
2016 Hawaii Five-0 Ella Koha Episode: "Ke Koa Lokomaika'i"
Cooper Barrett's Guide to Surviving Life Attractive Girl Episode "How to Survive Working with Friends"
Unreal Yael Main role (season 2), 10 episodes
Notorious Chloe Edwards Episode: "Tell Me a Secret"
2016–2017 Chicago P.D. Assistant State's Attorney Anna Valdez 4 episodes
2017 Chicago Justice Main role
Lethal Weapon Nora Cooper Episode: "Flight Risk"
2018 The Good Cop Cora Vasquez Main role
2018–2019 Splitting Up Together Lisa Apple Recurring role
2019 Stumptown Liz Melero 4 episodes
2023–2025 FUBAR Emma Brunner Main role

Theater

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Year Title Role Venue Ref.
2026 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Madame de Tourvel Lyttelton Theatre, Royal National Theatre [37][38]

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2023 Forspoken Auden Keen Voice role [39]

Discography

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Soundtrack albums

List of soundtrack albums, with selected chart positions
Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Sales
[40]		 US
Sound.
[41]		 UK
Amer.
[42]		 UK
Comp.
[43]		 UK
Sound.
[44]
A Complete Unknown (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) 44175113

Songs

List of non-single appearances
Title Year Other artist(s) Album
"Girl from the North Country" 2024 Timothée Chalamet A Complete Unknown
"Don't Think Twice, It's All Right"
"Blowin' in the Wind"
"It Ain't Me Babe"
"Silver Dagger" N/a
"The House of the Rising Sun" N/a
"There but for Fortune" N/a

Awards and nominations

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Year Awards Category Nominated work Result Ref.
2024 Academy Awards Best Supporting Actress A Complete Unknown Nominated [24]
Actor Awards Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role Nominated [45]
Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated [45]
The Astra Awards Breakthrough Award Won [46]
AARP Movies for Grownups Awards Best Ensemble Nominated [47]
Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress 5th place [48]
Phoenix Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Nominated [49]
St. Louis Film Critics Association Best Supporting Actress Nominated [50]
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Best Supporting Actress Nominated [51]

References

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  1. ↑ "Timothée Chalamet & Monica Barbaro Break Down Recreating 'It Ain't Me Babe' by Bob Dylan & Joan Baez". Variety. December 27, 2024. Retrieved February 17, 2025.
  2. 1 2 Su, Diana (February 20, 2023). "At Midnight: Quiz con Diego Boneta y Monica Barbaro ¿cuánto se conocen?" (Video). Spoilertime.
  3. 1 2 3 Johnson, G. Allen (May 26, 2022). "Bay Area actress went through grueling 'boot camp' with Tom Cruise for 'Top Gun: Maverick'". San Francisco Chronicle. Hearst Communications, Inc. Archived from the original on June 3, 2022. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Monica Barbaro on Instagram: "It's my birthday (yay!) and I've created a personal fundraising page..." Instagram. June 17, 2020. Retrieved January 26, 2025.
  5. ↑ Meet Monica Barbaro accessed 01/24/2025
  6. ↑ Davis, Clayton (December 27, 2024). "Monica Barbaro on Portraying Joan Baez in 'A Complete Unknown,' Having a Mixed Identity in Hollywood and Being Mentored by Tom Cruise". Variety. Retrieved December 31, 2024.
  7. 1 2 3 Elder, Mike (September 24, 2017). "BA #198: Monica Barbaro". Box Angeles (Podcast). Archived from the original on June 14, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2022.
  8. ↑ Edworthy, Sarah (May 29, 2020). "Interview: Monica Barbaro". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on August 26, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  9. ↑ Zuckerman, Esther (June 20, 2016). "Hot Rachel From "UnREAL" Talks Breaking Into Acting and Playing a Manipulator". Cosmopolitan. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  10. ↑ Gray, Joslyn (June 6, 2013). "Viral Video: 'It's Not About the Nail' Is a Hilarious Look at Marriage". Babble. Archived from the original on July 13, 2013. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  11. ↑ Saperstein, Pat (June 29, 2013). "Variety's Picks: 15 Symptoms of Life in L.A., New Burt Bacharach Book, Goodie Mob Album, More". Variety. Archived from the original on June 22, 2022. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  12. ↑ Boardman, Madeline (June 3, 2016). "'UnREAL': Before They Were Stars". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 15, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  13. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 25, 2016). "Chicago Justice's Monica Barbaro Cast as Series Regular". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 28, 2016. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  14. ↑ Stephens, Stephanie (February 8, 2017). "Chicago Justice's Monica Barbaro Dancing Her Way into Dream Role". Parade. Archived from the original on November 25, 2018. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
  15. ↑ Dayani, Aahil (April 18, 2022). "What Has Monica Barbaro Been Up To Since Chicago Justice Was Canceled?". Looper. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  16. ↑ Gilchrist, Todd (June 3, 2022). "How Top Gun: Maverick star Monica Barbaro developed a pilot's swagger". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on September 20, 2022. Retrieved September 19, 2022.
  17. ↑ "'Top Gun: Maverick' Lands Best Picture Nom & Five Others; No Tom Cruise Acting Nom But A Nod For Bringing Moviegoing Back From Pandemic". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  18. ↑ Johnson, G. Allen (February 9, 2023). "Review: Bay Area-born Monica Barbaro shines in sappy rom-com 'At Midnight'". San Francisco Chronicle. Archived from the original on February 10, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  19. ↑ Busch, Jenna (February 9, 2023). "At Midnight's Monica Barbaro On Dancing, Superhero Films, And Top Gun: Maverick [Exclusive Interview]". Slash Film. Archived from the original on February 9, 2023. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
  20. ↑ "'FUBAR' Season 2 Review: Arnold Schwarzenegger and Monica Barbaro Kill It in a Netflix Spy Comedy That Could Go Even Bigger With Its Action". Collider. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  21. ↑ Strauss, Matthew (April 27, 2023). "Monica Barbaro to Play Joan Baez in New Bob Dylan Movie A Complete Unknown". Pitchfork. Retrieved April 27, 2023.
  22. ↑ della Cava, Marco (December 27, 2024). "After playing Joan Baez in Dylan movie, Monica Barbaro is no longer 'A Complete Unknown'". USA Today. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  23. ↑ "'A Complete Unknown' Review: An Electric Timothée Chalamet Hoists James Mangold's Bob Dylan Biopic Above Its Flaws". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  24. 1 2 Lewis, Hilary (January 23, 2025). "Oscars: Full List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 23, 2025.
  25. ↑ Hipes, Patrich; Pedersen, Erik (January 8, 2025). "SAG Awards Nominations: 'Wicked' & 'A Complete Unknown' Lead Film Field; 'Shōgun' Tops TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 8, 2025.
  26. ↑ "Paul Mescal, Letitia Wright, Monica Barbaro And Nicola Coughlan To Make Star Debuts At London's National Theatre". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 30, 2025.
  27. ↑ "Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner turn up the sexual heat — but does it work?". The Times. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  28. ↑ "'One Night Only' Review: Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner Sparkle in a Rom-Com Sweeter and Sexier Than Its Contrived Script Deserves". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  29. ↑ "Monica Barbaro Officially Joins Luca Guadagnino's 'Artificial'". Variety. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  30. ↑ "'Ocean's Eleven' Prequel: Monica Barbaro in Talks to Join Margot Robbie, Bradley Cooper". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 5, 2026.
  31. ↑ Specter, Emma (May 27, 2025). "I Want What They Appear to Have: Monica Barbaro and Andrew Garfield". Vogue. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  32. ↑ "Andrew Garfield and Monica Barbaro Share Some PDA at Wimbledon". ELLE. July 6, 2025. Retrieved July 13, 2025.
  33. ↑ Grobar, Matt (October 24, 2024). "Monica Barbaro Latest To Join Bart Layton's Amazon MGM Thriller 'Crime 101'". Deadline. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  34. ↑ Jacob, Arushi (April 20, 2026). "'One Night Only' Trailer: Callum Turner and Monica Barbaro's Rom-Com Is Set on the One Night a Year Single People Can Legally Have Sex". Variety. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  35. ↑ Jackson, Angelique (July 28, 2025). "Monica Barbaro Officially Joins Luca Guadagnino's 'Artificial'". Variety. Retrieved August 2, 2026.
  36. ↑ D'Alessandro, Anthony (June 30, 2026). "Monica Barbaro Set For 'Ocean's Prequel Opposite Margot Robbie & Bradley Cooper". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 30, 2026.
  37. ↑ "Les Liaisons Dangereuses Tickets | London Theatre | Play | National Theatre". www.nationaltheatre.org.uk. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  38. ↑ Akbar, Arifa (April 1, 2026). "Les Liaisons Dangereuses review – love is a fight for power in this bold staging". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved April 6, 2026.
  39. ↑ Saunders, Toby (January 25, 2023). "Forspoken cast: Full list of voice actors & where you know them from". Radio Times. Archived from the original on January 27, 2023. Retrieved January 27, 2023.
  40. ↑ "Top Album Sales: Week of February 8, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  41. ↑ "Soundtracks: Week of February 8, 2025". Billboard. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  42. ↑ "Official Americana Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  43. ↑ "Official Compilations Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  44. ↑ "Official Soundtrack Albums Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  45. 1 2 France, Lisa Respers (January 8, 2025). "SAG Award nominations 2025: See the full list of nominees". CNN. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  46. ↑ "Title Pending 2". Digital Enlightenment Studies. November 8, 2023. doi:10.61147/des.2.
  47. ↑ Appelo, Tim (November 20, 2024). "Announcing AARP's 2025 Movies for Grownups Awards Nominees". AARP. Archived from the original on November 20, 2024. Retrieved November 22, 2024.
  48. ↑ "DFW FILM CRITICS NAME "ANORA" BEST PICTURE OF 2024". December 18, 2024. Archived from the original on December 20, 2024. Retrieved December 23, 2024.
  49. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 13, 2024). "The 2024 Phoenix Critics Circle (PCC) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved December 10, 2025.
  50. ↑ Neglia, Matt (December 15, 2024). "The 2024 St. Louis Film Critics Association (StLFCA) Winners". Next Best Picture. Retrieved January 15, 2025.
  51. ↑ Vlessing, Etan (January 20, 2025). "'Anora' Leads Vancouver Film Critics Circle Nominations With Five Nods". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2025.
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