What Happened to Monica Barbaro?

Monica Barbaro's journey in Hollywood began with a series of television roles and independent projects, gradually building her profile. After gaining early attention for a viral comedy short, "It's Not About the Nail" (2013), she landed significant TV parts in series such as "UnREAL" (2016), "Chicago Justice" (2017), "The Good Cop" (2018), and "Splitting Up Together" (2018–2019). Her voice acting work also included the animated series "Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas" (2020).

The turning point in Barbaro's career arrived with her role as Lieutenant Natasha "Phoenix" Trace in the critically and commercially successful 2022 film "Top Gun: Maverick." Her portrayal of the skilled naval aviator garnered widespread recognition and established her as a rising star in action cinema. This success was quickly followed by a leading role in the romantic comedy "At Midnight" (2023), where her performance earned acclaim, with the San Francisco Chronicle noting her "seemingly effortless charm."

Barbaro continued her upward trajectory with a starring role alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in the Netflix action-comedy series "FUBAR" (2023–2025). However, it was her transformative performance as folk singer Joan Baez in James Mangold's Bob Dylan biopic "A Complete Unknown" (2024) that brought her significant critical acclaim, including an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. She undertook singing and guitar lessons to prepare for the role, with The Hollywood Reporter praising her "rich, clear and expressive" voice.

The year 2026 has proven to be exceptionally busy for Barbaro, marking her stage debut in a West End revival of "Les Liaisons dangereuses" at the National Theatre, where her performance was lauded. On the film front, she has starred in the romantic comedy "One Night Only," released on August 7, 2026, and the action film "Crime 101." Additionally, she portrays Mira Murati in Luca Guadagnino's biographical drama "Artificial," which was acquired by Neon for a 2026 release after being dropped by Amazon MGM Studios.

Her current status as of August 25, 2026, sees her actively filming the untitled "Ocean's Eleven" prequel, where she joins a star-studded cast including Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper, who is also directing. The film, set at the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix, is slated for a June 25, 2027 release. Barbaro's consistent work across diverse genres and platforms, coupled with critical recognition, firmly establishes her as a prominent and in-demand talent in the entertainment industry. She has also been linked romantically with Andrew Garfield, with whom she co-stars in "Artificial."