Actress Monica Barbaro is receiving major accolades for her portrayal of folk legend Joan Baez in the new Bob Dylan biopic, A Complete Unknown, including receiving an Oscar nomination for best supporting actress. Barbaro had little experience singing and couldn’t play guitar when she was hired for the part. Amazingly, she learned learn to do both with just a few months of preparation before filming began.
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So, what does Baez herself think about Barbaro’s performance? In a recent interview with the Marin Independent Journal, the 84-year-old singer and social-justice activist gave it a thumbs-up.
“I loved what she did in the film,” Baez said. “If I didn’t think she was good at it, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it in general. But she looked enough like me and she had my gestures down. You could tell who it was. She worked so hard. Kudos to her for taking the role on.”
Joan also was impressed by the musical performances in the film, which stars Timothée Chalamet as Dylan and features Ed Norton as traditional folk great Pete Seeger.
“I thought the music was fantastic,” Baez said. She added, “I may be blocking my feelings, but it’s an amusing movie. It was fun.”
Marin-bred actor Monica Barbaro, who plays Joan Baez, and the real-life Joan Baez discuss Bob Dylan biopic 'A Complete Unknown' https://t.co/cTHMKDDylo
— Paul Liberatore (@LibLarge) January 30, 2025
Baez Also Enjoyed Chalamet’s Performance as Dylan in the Film
Baez also had a positive reaction to Chalamet’s performance, although she told the Marin Independent Journal that she recalls Dylan a lot scruffier than how he was portrayed in the movie. That being said, Joan noted that the film faithfully presented how charismatic Dylan was.
“I have to come back to that’s how it was,” she shared. “When he walked into the room, he took up all the oxygen. And so my part was always diminished in his presence. And in that sense the film is accurate.”
Baez’s Reaction to a Scene That Depicted Her and Dylan Making Out
As previously reported, A Complete Unknown follows Dylan’s rise to stardom, from his early years in the New York City folk scene to his historic performance at the 1965 Newport Folk Festival, where he “went electric.” The movie also looks at his turbulent relationship with Baez. Joan was a mentor to and early supporter of Dylan, as well as one of his romantic partners.
A Complete Unknown features a fictionalized scene that shows a romantic interlude between Baez and Dylan. Joan admitted that the scene led to a humorously uncomfortable moment between her and her college-age granddaughter.
“It was pleasantly brief,” Baez remarked with a laugh. She then noted that her granddaughter reacted by saying, “I don’t want to see my grandmother making out in a film.”
Barbaro Admitted She Was Apprehensive to Speak with Baez
Barbaro also spoke with the Marin Independent Journal about her daunting experience preparing to play Baez in the movie. Monica admitted that although Joan made herself available to the cast, she initially was hesitant to talk with the folk legend.
“At that point I had her pretty high on a pedestal,” she explained. “I really wanted to do her justice, but I wasn’t sure if I was going to speak to her in part because of the intimidation factor.”
Eventually, Barbaro did decide to chat with Baez, and was relieved to find how down to earth she was.
“I felt emotional hearing her voice on the phone because I had been studying her voice in her 20s so intensely,” Monica pointed out. “And I felt like I had so much respect for her. But she was like, ‘Oh, I’m just in my garden listening to the birds.’ And I was like, oh, yeah, you don’t live or die by what we say about you in this movie.”
Barbaro added, “She’s lived her life. And I can’t imagine how surreal it would be to know that someone is sort of dressing up and playing you in a movie. But she really took it in stride. She wasn’t trying to dictate in any way my response to her. She was like, ‘I’m here, I’m open and available for any question you have.’ I was really appreciative that she was so generous with me.”
About A Complete Unknown’s Oscar Nominations
As previously reported, A Complete Unknown was nominated for eight Academy Awards this year. Besides Barbaro’s nod, the film is nominated for Best Picture, Chalamet for best actor, Norton for best supporting actor, and James Mangold for best director.
About the Upcoming Baez Tribute Concert
Meanwhile, Baez will be the subject of a star-studded tribute concert taking place this Saturday, February 8, in San Francisco. Joan will be performing at the show, as will Emmylou Harris, Bonnie Raitt, Hozier, Rosanne Cash, Margo Price, Tom Morello, Lucinda Williams, Taj Mahal, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott, and others.
Barbaro, who currently is filming a new movie in London, says she’s still hoping to attend to the event. If she does, she would have the opportunity to meet Baez in person for the first time.
“I’m doing everything I can to try and make it back to go and see her,” she told the newspaper. “Whether I meet her or not, it would be so cool just to be there.”
The concert, which will benefit the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund, will be held at the Masonic Auditorium.
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