Monica Barbaro is an American actress who went from ballet studios to the top of Hollywood. She was born on June 17, 1989, in San Francisco, California, and she is 37 years old. Her father is Italian American, and her mother has Mexican, German and Nicaraguan roots, so she grew up with a rich mix of cultures at home.
She is the daughter of Nicholas Barbaro and Heidi Barbaro, and she has a brother, Michael, and a sister, Eva. Her parents divorced when she was a child, and she grew up in Mill Valley. Monica Barbaro trained in ballet for years and earned a dance degree from New York University before she chose acting as her career.
She has never published her net worth, and she keeps her money matters private. Her hard work in film and television now makes her one of the most admired actresses in Hollywood today.
Monica Barbaro Quick Bio / Wiki
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Monica Maria Barbaro |
| Date of Birth | June 17, 1989 |
| Age | 37 years |
| Birthplace | San Francisco, California, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Italian, Mexican, German and Nicaraguan descent |
| Height | 5 feet 7 inches (170 cm) |
| Profession | Actress |
| Education | New York University, Tisch School of the Arts |
| Years Active | 2012 to present |
| Father | Nicholas Barbaro |
| Mother | Heidi Barbaro |
| Siblings | Michael Barbaro (brother) and Eva Barbaro (sister) |
| Boyfriend | Andrew Garfield |
| Marital Status | Not married |
| Net Worth | Not published |
| @monicabarbaro |
Who Is Monica Barbaro?
Monica Barbaro is an American actress who built her career step by step. She first won attention on television, then she broke through in one of the biggest films of the decade. She played Lieutenant Natasha “Phoenix” Trace in Top Gun: Maverick. She then played folk music legend Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, and that role earned her an Academy Award nomination.
Her story is different from most Hollywood stories. Monica Barbaro did not start as a child actress. She trained as a ballet dancer for many years. She earned a fine arts degree in dance. Only after college did she give her full heart to acting. That dance training still shapes her work today. It gives her control, grace and strong screen presence.
She is also a working singer on screen. For A Complete Unknown she learned to sing and play guitar like Joan Baez, and she performed Baez songs in the film. In 2025 she was named to the Time 100 Next list of rising leaders. In 2026 she made her stage debut in London and led three new films. Monica Barbaro is now one of the most watched actresses in the world.
Monica Barbaro Early Life and Family
Monica Maria Barbaro was born on June 17, 1989, in San Francisco, California. Her father is Nicholas Barbaro, and her mother is Heidi Barbaro. Her father is Italian American. Her mother has Mexican, German and Nicaraguan roots. Her grandfather on her mother’s side had German, English and Welsh roots, and her grandmother on her mother’s side was Mexican.
She grew up in Mill Valley, a small town near San Francisco. Her parents divorced when she was still a child. She has an older brother named Michael and a sister named Eva. The family stayed close, and her brother and sister remain a big part of her life.
Monica went to Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley, and she graduated in 2007. As a young girl she loved the stage. At the age of 12 she played Hermia in a school production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and that moment lit her love for acting. Still, dance came first in her young life, and she spent her school years in ballet classes.
Monica Barbaro Dance Training Background
Dance is the base of everything Monica Barbaro does on screen. She started ballet at an early age and trained in classical ballet for years. She also studied modern dance, salsa, flamenco and West African dance. This wide training gave her a strong and flexible body, and it taught her discipline from a young age.
After high school she moved to New York City. She joined the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. There she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance in 2010. At Tisch she also took her first acting classes as electives. Those classes changed her path.
After her graduation she made a brave choice. She left a dance career behind and returned to San Francisco to act. She booked a commercial and a short film, found an agent, and trained at the Beverly Hills Playhouse acting school. Her dance years were not wasted. The balance, timing and body control she learned as a dancer later helped her in action roles, dance scenes and live stage work.
How Old Is Monica Barbaro?
Monica Barbaro is 37 years old. She was born on June 17, 1989, in San Francisco, California. She celebrates her birthday on June 17 every year. Her zodiac sign is Gemini.
She shares her birthday month with many summer-born stars, and fans mark June 17 as Monica Barbaro day on social media each year. She turned 37 in June 2026. Age has never slowed her down. Her biggest roles have all come in her thirties, and her career is still rising fast.
Monica Barbaro Career
Monica Barbaro started her screen career in 2012. She worked in commercials, short films and small guest roles. Her first film role came in Bullish in 2013, where she played Eva. In the same year she led the short comedy film It’s Not About the Nail. The short went viral, and it brought her real attention for the first time.
Her first major television role came in 2016. She played Yael in the second season of the Lifetime series UnREAL. The role showed her sharp comic timing and her strong screen hold. She then played Assistant State’s Attorney Anna Valdez in Chicago P.D., and she carried the same role into the spin-off series Chicago Justice as a main cast member in 2017.
In 2018 she played Cora Vasquez, a main role in the Netflix series The Good Cop, with Josh Groban and Tony Danza. She also played Lisa Apple in the comedy series Splitting Up Together from 2018 to 2019. Guest roles in Stitchers, Hawaii Five-0, Notorious, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Lethal Weapon and Stumptown filled her early years and built her craft.
Her feature film lead debut came with The Cathedral in 2021. Then came the turning point of her career. In Top Gun: Maverick in 2022 she played Lieutenant Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, a naval pilot in the elite training group. The film became the second-highest-grossing film of 2022 and earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture. Monica trained with the cast in real flight drills for the role.
In 2023 she led the Netflix action comedy series FUBAR with Arnold Schwarzenegger. She played Emma Brunner, a CIA officer and the daughter of Schwarzenegger’s character. The show ran for two seasons and 16 episodes, from 2023 to 2025. She also led the romantic comedy At Midnight in 2023, where her dance skill shone in a salsa and tango scene.
In 2024 she gave the performance of her career. She played Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown, the Bob Dylan film with Timothée Chalamet. She took singing and guitar lessons to prepare, and she performed Baez songs in the film and on its soundtrack. Critics praised her voice and her calm power in the role. The work earned her nominations for the Academy Award and the Screen Actors Guild Award.
In 2026 she made her stage debut at the National Theatre in London. She played Madame de Tourvel in Les Liaisons Dangereuses with Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner. The same year she starred in the films Crime 101 and One Night Only, and she played tech leader Mira Murati in the film Artificial. She has also been cast in the upcoming Ocean’s Eleven prequel film with Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper.
Monica Barbaro Career Timeline
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1989 | Born on June 17 in San Francisco, California |
| 2007 | Graduates from Tamalpais High School in Mill Valley |
| 2010 | Earns a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from New York University |
| 2013 | First film role in Bullish and leads the viral short It’s Not About the Nail |
| 2016 | First major TV role as Yael in UnREAL season 2 |
| 2017 | Leads Chicago Justice as Anna Valdez |
| 2018 | Leads The Good Cop on Netflix as Cora Vasquez |
| 2021 | Feature film lead debut in The Cathedral |
| 2022 | Breakthrough as Phoenix in Top Gun: Maverick |
| 2023 | Leads FUBAR with Arnold Schwarzenegger and stars in At Midnight |
| 2024 | Plays Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown |
| 2025 | Earns Academy Award and Screen Actors Guild Award nominations and a place on the Time 100 Next list |
| 2026 | Stage debut in London and leads Crime 101, One Night Only and Artificial |
Monica Barbaro Movies and TV Shows
Monica Barbaro has built a full list of film and television work. Her film list mixes a blockbuster, a music biopic, romantic comedy and strong drama. Her television list mixes legal drama, crime, comedy and action.
Films
| Year | Film | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Bullish | Eva |
| 2021 | The Cathedral | Lydia Damrosch |
| 2022 | Top Gun: Maverick | Natasha “Phoenix” Trace |
| 2022 | I’m Charlie Walker | Peggy |
| 2023 | At Midnight | Sophie Wilder |
| 2024 | A Complete Unknown | Joan Baez |
| 2026 | Crime 101 | Maya |
| 2026 | One Night Only | Allie |
| 2026 | Artificial | Mira Murati |
Top Gun: Maverick is the film that changed her life. As Phoenix, she held her own in a cast led by Tom Cruise. She trained for months in flight survival and jet drills, and she flew in real jets for the film. The role made her a global face.
A Complete Unknown is her finest acting work so far. As Joan Baez, she sang live, played guitar and matched Timothée Chalamet scene for scene. Her duets with Chalamet became the heart of the film. The role brought her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
At Midnight showed her light side. She played photographer Sophie Wilder in a sweet romantic comedy set in Mexico. Her dance training lit up the film’s big dance scene, where the two leads mix salsa and tango steps.
Television
| Year | TV Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Stitchers | Brenda “Bentley” Miller | Guest role |
| 2016 | Hawaii Five-0 | Ella Koha | Guest role |
| 2016 | UnREAL | Yael | Main role, season 2 |
| 2016 | Notorious | Chloe Edwards | Guest role |
| 2016–2017 | Chicago P.D. | Anna Valdez | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Chicago Justice | Anna Valdez | Main role |
| 2017 | Lethal Weapon | Nora Cooper | Guest role |
| 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, 16 episodes |
UnREAL gave her the first big stage. As Yael, a smart and bold contestant on a dating show inside the show, she became a fan favorite in season 2. Chicago Justice then made her a network lead. As Anna Valdez she played a sharp young lawyer with heart, and the role proved she could carry a full series.
FUBAR is her biggest television success. She played Emma Brunner, a top CIA officer who hides her job from her family, while her father, played by Arnold Schwarzenegger, hides the same job from her. The father and daughter spy story mixed action and comedy, and her action scenes used her dancer’s strength in every fight.
Stage and Voice Work
In 2026 Monica Barbaro stepped onto the stage at the National Theatre in London. She played Madame de Tourvel in Les Liaisons Dangereuses, directed by Marianne Elliott, with Lesley Manville and Aidan Turner. Critics praised her clear voice and her calm control in the role.
She has also done voice work. In the 2023 video game Forspoken she voiced Auden Keen. Her singing voice is a real part of her screen work too, and her songs for A Complete Unknown appear on the film’s soundtrack album.
Monica Barbaro Awards and Nominations
Monica Barbaro reached the top level of awards with A Complete Unknown. Her Joan Baez role brought her an Academy Award nomination and two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations. She also won a breakthrough award and earned praise from critics groups across North America. In 2025 she was named to the Time 100 Next list.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | A Complete Unknown | Nominated |
| 2024 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role | A Complete Unknown | Nominated |
| 2024 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | A Complete Unknown | Nominated |
| 2024 | The Astra Awards | Breakthrough Award | A Complete Unknown | Won |
| 2024 | AARP Movies for Grownups Awards | Best Ensemble | A Complete Unknown | Nominated |
| 2024 | Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | A Complete Unknown | 5th place |
| 2024 | Phoenix Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actress | A Complete Unknown | Nominated |
| 2024 | St. Louis Film Critics Association | Best Supporting Actress | A Complete Unknown | Nominated |
| 2024 | Vancouver Film Critics Circle | Best Supporting Actress | A Complete Unknown | Nominated |
| 2025 | Time 100 Next | Rising Leaders List | Career honor | Listed |
Monica Barbaro Physical Appearance
Monica Barbaro stands 5 feet 7 inches tall, which is 170 cm. Her height helped her in ballet and later in action roles, where she performs many of her own stunts and fight scenes.
She has long dark brown hair and brown eyes. Her dancer’s build gives her a strong and graceful look on screen. She has not shared her weight or body measurements in public, and she keeps those details private.
Her style is simple and classic. On red carpets she often wears clean lines and soft colors, and her fashion work has grown with her fame. She made her Met Gala debut in a Christian Dior look.
Monica Barbaro Boyfriend and Relationship
Monica Barbaro is in a relationship with actor Andrew Garfield. The two were first linked in early 2025, and they have since been seen together at public events and in daily life. Their bond became a warm talking point for fans of both stars. In 2026 they also worked in the same film world, as Garfield plays Sam Altman in Artificial, where Barbaro plays Mira Murati.
Monica Barbaro is not married, and she has no husband. She keeps her private life calm and low-key. She does not share her relationship details in interviews, and she lets her work speak first. She lives in Los Angeles.
Monica Barbaro Net Worth
Monica Barbaro has never published her net worth. She keeps her salary and her money matters private, and no single confirmed figure exists for her wealth. What is clear is the path of her earnings. She has worked in film and television for over a decade, and her pay has grown with each step of her career.
Her income comes from clear sources. Film roles pay her main income, and her lead roles in Top Gun: Maverick, At Midnight and A Complete Unknown raised her value in the industry. Her two seasons as the lead of the Netflix series FUBAR added strong television income. Stage work, voice work and her soundtrack songs add more streams.
Monica Barbaro Income Sources
| Source | Details |
|---|---|
| Film roles | Lead and supporting roles in films such as Top Gun: Maverick and A Complete Unknown |
| Television series | Main roles in FUBAR, Chicago Justice, The Good Cop and UnREAL |
| Stage work | Lead role at the National Theatre in London in 2026 |
| Voice work | Video game voice role in Forspoken |
| Music and soundtrack | Songs performed for the A Complete Unknown soundtrack |
With an Academy Award nomination, a hit streaming series and three new films in 2026, her earning power is at its highest point so far. Her team now books her for lead roles in films across action, drama and romance.
Monica Barbaro Social Media
Monica Barbaro keeps a simple and real social media life. Her confirmed home online is Instagram, where she posts about her films, her stage work, dance and daily life. She uses her page to share her work and to support good causes, and she once used a birthday post to raise funds for charity.
| Platform | Handle |
|---|---|
| @monicabarbaro |
She does not run a public page on every platform, and many fan pages use her name. Her Instagram above is her official page. She posts in a warm and simple style, and her page gives fans a close look at her film sets, her music work and her life in Los Angeles.
Monica Barbaro Interesting Facts
- Monica Barbaro trained as a ballet dancer for years before she became an actress, and she holds a fine arts degree in dance.
- At the age of 12 she played Hermia in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and that school play sparked her love for acting.
- Her short film It’s Not About the Nail went viral in 2013 and opened the door to her television career.
- She trained in real fighter jet drills and flew in jets to play Phoenix in Top Gun: Maverick.
- She learned to sing and play guitar from scratch to play Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown.
- She is a descendant of William Floyd, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, through her mother’s family.
- Her mixed roots shape her casting story, and she has spoken with pride about her Latina heritage.
- She played a lawyer, a police detective, a CIA officer and a folk singer in four of her best-known roles.
- In FUBAR she did her own fight scenes, and her dance training made the action look easy.
- She made her stage debut in London in 2026, a full circle return to the live stage where she began as a child dancer.
Monica Barbaro FAQs
Who is Monica Barbaro?
Monica Barbaro is an American actress. She is best known as Phoenix in Top Gun: Maverick and as Joan Baez in A Complete Unknown. She also led the Netflix series FUBAR.
How old is Monica Barbaro?
Monica Barbaro is 37 years old. She was born on June 17, 1989, in San Francisco, California.
When is Monica Barbaro’s birthday?
Monica Barbaro’s birthday is June 17. She was born on June 17, 1989, and her zodiac sign is Gemini.
Where was Monica Barbaro born?
Monica Barbaro was born in San Francisco, California, in the United States. She grew up in Mill Valley, California.
What is Monica Barbaro’s full name?
Her full name is Monica Maria Barbaro.
What is Monica Barbaro ethnicity?
Monica Barbaro has Italian roots from her father. Her mother has Mexican, German and Nicaraguan roots. She is an American actress with a mixed heritage.
What is Monica Barbaro height?
Monica Barbaro is 5 feet 7 inches tall, which is 170 cm.
What is Monica Barbaro net worth?
Monica Barbaro has never published her net worth. Her income comes from film roles, television series, stage work, voice work and soundtrack songs.
Who is Monica Barbaro boyfriend?
Monica Barbaro’s boyfriend is actor Andrew Garfield. The two have been in a relationship since early 2025.
Is Monica Barbaro married?
No, Monica Barbaro is not married. She is in a relationship with actor Andrew Garfield.
What role did Monica Barbaro play in Top Gun: Maverick?
She played Lieutenant Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, a naval pilot in the elite training group led by Tom Cruise’s character.
Who did Monica Barbaro play in A Complete Unknown?
She played folk singer Joan Baez. Her performance earned her an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Conclusion
Monica Barbaro’s rise is a story of patience and hard work. She spent years as a dancer, then years in small television roles. She never rushed her craft. Top Gun: Maverick made her a global face, and A Complete Unknown proved her depth as an actress and a singer. With an Academy Award nomination, a hit Netflix series, a London stage debut and three new films in 2026, Monica Barbaro stands among the finest actresses of her generation. Her story is still being written, and her best work may still be ahead of her.