Last week, Monica Barbaro met Joan Baez in person for the first time. For Barbaro, this was a big step in an extraordinary journey that first began in 2020, back when Barbaro couldn’t play guitar at all, but sang at her audition to play Baez in James Mangold’s Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown. Fast-forward five years, and Barbaro has successfully, and beautifully, embodied Baez’s story and performed her music—with the Oscar and SAG nominations to prove it.
She had spoken with Baez on the phone before, right before shooting a scene where she would perform “Blowin’ in the Wind” opposite Timothée Chalamet as Dylan. But now, at last, the two women have met at Baez’s San Francisco concert on February 8th. Here, as she wraps up shooting on Bart Layton’s new heist movie Crime 101, in which she stars alongside Jennifer Jason Leigh, Chris Hemsworth, and Barry Keoghan, Barbaro reveals her experience of playing, and then meeting, a musical icon, and how Mangold, Chalamet, and Baez herself fed her performance.
In a conversation, Barbaro reflected on the excitement and challenges of her journey. She mentioned her experience of working on Crime 101 just as the BAFTAs approached, noting the intertwined schedules brought unexpected timing. She had two more days of shooting before heading to New York and then back to London for the BAFTAs.
When asked about her feelings regarding the SAG Awards and her Oscar nomination, Barbaro expressed a mix of excitement and overwhelming joy. She emphasized the wholesome connections formed with other nominees, stating, “It’s really the most wholesome thing about awards—is that it really is just people in a room telling each other how much they love each other’s work.” Her appreciation for the community within the film industry was evident.
Barbaro shared a memorable interaction that occurred at the Golden Globes when Glenn Close acknowledged her performance with a pointed gesture, leaving her speechless. However, an even more cherished memory arose from a humorous moment while backstage with Ariana Grande. As Barbaro tried to fix Grande’s dress, her own button popped. In an unexpected turn, Grande helped her by using a bobby pin to fix her dress. “Those friendly, silly moments stick with you later,” Barbaro reflected.
Following her encounter with Grande, Barbaro attended Baez’s concert and was deeply moved by the experience. “It was a beautiful concert. The audience felt very held and seen,” she recounted. Baez’s free spirit during the performance left Barbaro emotional and in awe, particularly when Baez sang “Diamonds and Rust.” Meeting Baez backstage proved to be as special as the concert itself, with Barbaro finding Baez both gracious and understanding, addressing her exhaustion with genuine concern.
Baez had previously praised Barbaro’s portrayal of her, commenting on how well she captured Baez’s gestures, a moment that meant the world to Barbaro. “Her doing that was just a huge gift to me and to the film itself,” she said, grateful for the validation.
As they delved into the details of her audition back in 2020, Barbaro explained the intricacies of playing such a notable figure. The audition included poignant moments where she had to embody Baez’s challenges and artistry within her music. She recalled selecting “There but For Fortune” as her song, a choice driven by both its melody and her vocal range at the time.
Barbaro’s experience on set was enriched by the guidance of director Jim Mangold. She highlighted the intensity of his direction but acknowledged that his high standards fostered a supportive environment for the cast. “He encourages you to take up space and trust your instincts,” Barbaro noted, emphasizing how valuable that support was for her as she navigated the complexities of portraying a real person.
Throughout their discussion, she addressed the influence Baez had on her both personally and as a female artist in the industry. The essence of Baez’s advocacy for authenticity resonated deeply with Barbaro, who connected it to her own experiences and aspirations.
The collaboration between Barbaro and her co-star Timothée Chalamet was marked by improvisation and chemistry, particularly during the filming of challenging scenes that reflected the tension between their characters. “The less we talked about the scenes, the better they went,” Barbaro observed, noting the organic process they found themselves in.
She also spoke of her transformation through costume, including the addition of prosthetic teeth. This decision, stemming from a desire for honesty in the portrayal of the folk music era, contributed to Barbaro’s understanding of her character and the authenticity required for her role. “It added so much for me,” she noted, acknowledging the meticulous work of the design team.
Interestingly, Barbaro’s creative journey unfolded during her work on FUBAR, where the overlapping schedules led to some lighthearted moments on set, including performing songs for Arnold Schwarzenegger. This delightful experience exemplified the camaraderie amongst the cast.
As she reflected on this whirlwind of events, Barbaro’s enthusiasm for her art, the people she admires, and her journey towards becoming an actress continued to shine through. Amidst her celebrations, moments like the one shared with Ariana Grande and the meaningful encounter with Joan Baez have left a lasting impression, perhaps defining her career and the legacy she aspires to leave behind.
