Fresh off her first Academy Award nomination for playing folk icon Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, Monica Barbaro is making headlines again – this time for sparking dating rumors with The Amazing Spider-Man star Andrew Garfield. The pair were photographed leaving a London café together last week, igniting speculation about a new Hollywood power couple .
From Fighter Jets to Red Carpets
While romance rumors swirl, Barbaro’s career continues its meteoric rise. The 34-year-old earned critical acclaim for her transformative performance as Baez in James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic, requiring intensive vocal training to master the singer’s signature vibrato. Co-star Timothée Chalamet recently praised her dedication: “Monica lived and breathed Joan’s essence – she even learned to play ‘Diamonds & Rust’ upside down like Baez did in ’65” .
Breaking Barriers in Action Roles
Barbaro continues breaking stereotypes as one of Hollywood’s most versatile action stars:
- Reprised her Top Gun: Maverick role as Lt. Phoenix in 2024’s Top Gun: Dominion
- Stars opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger in Netflix’s spy series FUBAR, renewed for Season 3
- Trained with Navy SEALs for upcoming thriller Crime 101, filming now
Awards Season Dark Horse
Despite being overshadowed early in awards season, Barbaro’s nuanced portrayal of Baez earned surprise nominations from:
| Award | Result |
|---|---|
| SAG Awards | Pending (2 nominations) |
| Academy Awards | Pending (Best Supporting Actress) |
| AARP Movies for Grownups | Pending (Ensemble) |
The San Francisco native remains grounded despite the accolades: “I keep my Oscar invite on my childhood ballet barre – a reminder that growth comes through constant practice” .
What’s Next?
Barbaro shows no signs of slowing down:
- Developing a limited series about dancer Josephine Baker
- Serving as executive producer on indie drama The Weight of Feathers
- Tipped to play X-Men’s Psylocke in Marvel’s MCU reboot
