Interview: Monica Barbaro Discusses Playing Joan Baez in ‘A Complete Unknown’

One of the pleasures of A Complete Unknown for me is really discovering Monica Barbaro. Playing Joan Baez, she goes toe to toe with Timothée Chalamet and his Bob Dylan in a way that’s a true highlight of the film. Barbaro has the opportunity to interact with the protagonist in a manner no one else does, really leaving a mark in the process. I spoke to Edward Norton about the movie yesterday (here), but today, it’s Barbaro’s turn.

In my review of the film (here), I had the following to say about the cast, including Barbaro:

Timothée Chalamet leads an impeccable cast while doing the best work of his career so far. He becomes Bob Dylan in a way that’s never impression, but simply masterful interpretation. There isn’t a moment where you see Chalamet or compare him to Dylan. He just is Dylan here. Monica Barbaro and Elle Fanning are the film’s secret weapons, bringing out other sides of Dylan. Barbaro gets to go toe to toe with Chalamet and challenge his character as Joan Baez, both artistically and personally. Fanning is able to break your heart while looking at the man differently than anyone else. They both impressed me massively. Edward Norton crafts a gentle soul who sees this genius as a sign of his demise in a way, appreciating him nonetheless. It’s a kind yet complex turn that also ranks among his best, which is really saying something. Boyd Holbook gets to have the most fun of the lot, especially when Johnny Cash is on the wilder side, but never turns it into a caricature. You’re seeing Cash at one moment in his life, genuinely impressed by Dylan. Scoot McNairy makes the most of his few scenes, essentially silent yet also giving us a different look at Dylan.

Below, you can see my chat with Barbaro. Her role is pretty singular in James Mangold‘s flick, so there’s fertile territory here. She’s very self-deprecating, which definitely makes the conversation a lot of fun. She gets into the singing of it all, too, which is a fascinating thing to discuss. Especially if you love Baez, Barbaro more than does her justice. A Complete Unknown is in theaters tomorrow, so be sure to check it out…

Here now is my interview with A Complete Unknown co-star Monica Barbaro. Enjoy:

A Complete Unknown is in theaters tomorrow!