- Monica Barbaro got an Oscar nomination for A Complete Unknown
- She plays folk singer Joan Baez, the on-off love of Bob Dylan
- She boasts a list of other TV and film credits
Monica Barbaro has earned herself an Academy Award nomination for her turn as Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown.
The James Mangold-helmed flick tells the story of Bob Dylan’s rise to fame as an acoustic folk icon and his pivot to electric.
For playing the folk songstress, she is recognised in the Best Supporting Actress category. The competition includes The Brutalist’s Felicity Jones, Wicked’s Ariana Grande, Conclave’s Isabella Rossellini and Emilia Perez’s Zoe Saldana.
#Oscars nominations — Best Supporting Actress
— Film Updates (@FilmUpdates) January 23, 2025
Monica Barbaro, A Complete Unknown
Ariana Grande, Wicked
Felicity Jones, The Brutalist
Isabella Rossellini, Conclave
Zoe Saldana, Emilia Pérez pic.twitter.com/C6gPZEbvE9
Timothee Chalamet, who plays Baez’s on-off love, Dylan, also got recognised by the Academy, who granted him his second Best Actor nod.
Their co-star Edward Norton, who played Pete Seeger, was listed as one of the Best Supporting Actor contenders.
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Who is Oscar-nominated actress Monica Barbaro?
Born in San Francisco on 17 June 1990, Barbaro is best known for her work in film and television.
She attended ballet lessons growing up. They propelled her to study at NYU’s prestigious Tisch School of the Arts. Upon graduating, she moved back to California to pursue her dreams.
She got her acting start in television
After gaining a reputation via online comedy, her TV credits include Unreal, Chicago PD and Splitting Up Together.
Monica Barbaro might have the need for speed
While her film debut was the indie The Cathedral, Barbaro got her first taste of Hollywood big-budget blockbusters in the long-awaited Top Gun: Maverick.
In the hotly anticipated sequel to the 80s classic, Barbaro brought to life Natasha ‘Phoenix’ Trace.
Read more: Timothee Chalamet praised for A Complete Unknown
What has she said about Joan Baez?
During the A Complete Unknown promo, Barbaro is full of praise for the Diamonds and Rust singer, like her need to be political.
Of Baez, she told ELLE magazine, “But she had a higher calling, I think, and she was this budding activist and wanted to say more with what she had at her disposal with this platform. As a creative, emotive artist, she wanted to speak to the issues of the time.
Read more: 2025 Oscars nominations: Emilia Perez, The Brutalist, Wicked lead the way
How did she prepare to become Joan Baez?
The process of morphing into a singer involved a lot of guitar and singing coaches for Barbaro. Baez’s signature clear-as-bell voice meant nailing the vocal training basics.
“The main thing with representing any iconic singer is there are certain qualities of their voice that they can be known for. And in Joan’s case, she has this steady vibrato.” Barbaro told Elle. “During this time, ’61 to ’65, she sang at a really high pitch in keys that I could not sing in. And so, [the training] was just about starting to work those basic pillars of her voice.
However, the prep was also impacted by the Hollywood industrial action in the summer of 2023, which involved a lot of solo practice.
What has Monica Barbaro said about her Oscar nomination?
Barbaro was in London when she found out about her first Oscar nomination.
In an interview with Variety, the actor revealed, “I was mid-fitting with costume designer Jenny Egan. She kept refreshing her phone, and I was like,’“I don’t want to know anything’. I looked at my phone and fell on the floor. I’m elated. This is surreal.”
Barbaro was so shocked by her Oscar nod that she hadn’t dared to dream about the ceremony.
“I have no idea [who I’m going to bring with me],” she admitted. “This is the first time I’ve even thought about it. I’m an actor and I’m just excited to be working. I don’t get plus ones to these things. Or plus ones to parties.”
And on who she’s most excited to meet at the bash, Barbaro is hopeful that she will run into Zoe Saldana – who is also nominated for the Best Supporting Actress category.
“I grew up watching Zoe Saldana. Center Stage was our film in the ballet world,” she said. “So, to talk to these people and share our love of each other’s work has been the coolest thing.”
