It is hard to remember a time before 2022 when people weren't constantly talking about Monica Barbaro. Honestly, if you blinked, you might have missed the transition from her being "that girl from that one show" to a genuine Oscar nominee and a household name. Most people initially pegged her as just another face in the high-octane cockpit of Top Gun: Maverick, but she’s spent the last few years proving she’s got more range than almost anyone else in her bracket.
From playing a gritty naval aviator to a legendary folk singer, and now leading some of the most anticipated projects of 2026, Barbaro has basically cracked the code on how to stay relevant in a fickle industry.
The Phoenix Effect and Why Top Gun Changed Everything
You can’t talk about Monica Barbaro movies and shows without starting with Lieutenant Natasha "Phoenix" Trace. Before Maverick hit theaters, Barbaro was a working actress with some solid TV credits under her belt—shows like UnREAL and Chicago Justice—but nothing that shouted "global superstar."
The thing about her performance as Phoenix is that it wasn't a "female pilot" role. It was just a pilot role. She fought for that, too. She’s mentioned in interviews that the original script had her being a bit more "tough" in a way that felt like she was overcompensating for being a woman in a male-dominated field. She pushed back, wanting to show the quiet, understated confidence of the real female aviators she met during training.
That authenticity paid off. She didn't just play the part; she lived it. Tom Cruise put the cast through a grueling flight program that had them pull real Gs in F/A-18 jets. While some of the guys were famously losing their lunch in the back of the planes, Barbaro became a standout for her poise. That "swagger" you see on screen? That was earned.
Moving Beyond the Cockpit: FUBAR and The Arnold Era
Right after the world saw her as a serious dramatic force, she pivoted. Hard.
Enter FUBAR. Working with Arnold Schwarzenegger is basically a rite of passage for action stars, but Barbaro didn't just play his daughter; she played his equal. Playing Emma Brunner, a CIA operative who discovers her dad is also a spy, required a very specific brand of comedic timing mixed with "I will kick your teeth in" energy.
The show was a massive hit for Netflix, though it's worth noting the series was officially canceled after its second season in late 2025. Fans were bummed, but for Barbaro, it was a strategic win. It showed she could carry a massive streaming hit and hold her own against a literal icon without being overshadowed.
The 2025 Turning Point: A Complete Unknown
If you're wondering when the critics finally started taking her seriously as a "prestige" actor, it was A Complete Unknown.
Playing Joan Baez opposite Timothée Chalamet’s Bob Dylan was the ultimate risk. Baez is a living legend with a voice that is almost impossible to replicate. Barbaro didn't just lip-sync; she actually performed the songs on the soundtrack. She spent months learning the guitar and studying Baez’s specific vocal inflections.
The Academy took notice. Her Best Supporting Actress nomination in 2025 wasn't just a "glad to be here" nod—it was a recognition of her ability to disappear into a role. She stopped being the "action girl" and became a chameleon.
Monica Barbaro in 2026: What’s Next?
Now that we're in 2026, her slate is looking even more diverse. If you've been following the trades, you know she's no longer just taking whatever comes her way. She's choosing projects that feel like "events."
Crime 101 (2026)
This is the one everyone is talking about. Based on the Don Winslow novella, Crime 101 is a high-stakes heist thriller. Starring alongside heavyweights, Barbaro is moving back into the crime-drama territory that she toyed with in her early TV days, but with a much bigger budget and a darker tone.
✨ Don't miss: Why Chasing the Sun Song Lyrics Still Hit Different a Decade Later
One Night Only (August 2026)
This project is a bit of a curveball. Directed by Will Gluck (the guy who gave us Anyone But You), this is a dystopian romance. She’s starring opposite Callum Turner, and the premise is wild: it's set in a world where premarital sex is only legal for one night a year. It sounds like a Black Mirror episode mixed with a rom-com, which is exactly the kind of weird, high-concept stuff that keeps an actor's career interesting.
Artificial (2026)
Details are still a bit thin on this one, but it’s currently in post-production. It’s a sci-fi piece that reportedly deals with AI (fitting for the times) and pushes her into a more cerebral, philosophical space.
The Essentials: A Quick Look at Her Career Path
Since everyone loves a good "where do I start" list, here is how you should actually watch her work to see the evolution:
- The Early Grind: Check out UnREAL Season 2. She plays Yael (aka "Hot Rachel"), and you can see the glimpses of the leading lady she'd eventually become.
- The TV Procedurals: If you’re a fan of the Dick Wolf universe, her stint as Anna Valdez in Chicago Justice and Chicago P.D. is solid, though fairly standard for the genre.
- The Breakout: Top Gun: Maverick. Obviously. If you haven't seen this yet, what are you even doing?
- The Romantic Lead: At Midnight on Paramount+. It’s a charming rom-com where she plays a movie star who falls for a hotel manager in Mexico. It’s breezy, fun, and shows off her dancing background.
- The Peak Performance: A Complete Unknown. This is the one you watch when you want to see why she’s winning awards.
Why She’s Not Your Average Hollywood Star
There is something refreshingly normal about Monica Barbaro. She was a professional ballet dancer before she really committed to acting, and you can see that discipline in how she handles her stunts and her physicality on screen. She’s also been very vocal about setting boundaries—refusing to do unnecessary nudity early in her career and making sure her characters have agency.
She’s basically the "actor's actor" who happens to be in billion-dollar movies.
If you want to keep up with her latest moves, the best bet is to keep an eye on the late-summer 2026 release window. With One Night Only hitting theaters in August, she’s likely going to be everywhere again.
Next Steps for the Fan:
- Watch the One Night Only trailer when it drops this spring to see her chemistry with Callum Turner.
- Listen to the A Complete Unknown soundtrack if you haven't; her rendition of the folk classics is genuinely impressive.
- Track the release of Crime 101 if you prefer her in "Phoenix mode"—strong, capable, and slightly dangerous.