‘He Owes Her A Lot’: A Complete Unknown Director Explains Why Monica Barbaro’s Casting As Joan Baez Was Crucial

As a seasoned admirer of historical biopics and a devoted follower of the evolving world of cinema, I must say that the upcoming film “A Complete Unknown” has piqued my interest like no other. The transformation of Timothée Chalamet into the enigmatic Bob Dylan is undoubtedly captivating, but it’s the portrayal of Joan Baez by Monica Barbaro that truly resonates with me.


Many people have been praising Timothée Chalamet’s portrayal of Bob Dylan in the upcoming biopic A Complete Unknown, but according to director James Mangold, another influential folk singer was crucial to Dylan’s rise to stardom.

In the movie, it’s Joan Baez, who was once both a romantic and professional partner of Dylan, portrayed by Monica Barbaro, who plays a significant role. According to Mangold, “Bob serves as the central figure, while all other characters intertwine, overlap, and even influence each other.” However, he added that their common thread is their connection to Bob.

The director underscored that every connection in the later musician’s personal life influenced his professional journey. Notably, Baez was the individual who significantly boosted his popularity by inviting him to share the stage with her during the Newport Folk Festival in 1963 – a moment that marked Dylan’s global debut. As Mangold explained, she acknowledged his exceptional talent as a writer.

He admitted that exploring their dynamic, strangled between their professional and personal commitments to each other was interesting. “They each have their talent, and it isn’t because of the other. But how they affect, negotiate, handle, and manhandle each other is really interesting. There are big egos and strong personalities,” he explained. 

Given Baez played such a significant role in Dylan’s narrative, it was essential to find an actress who could convincingly portray her. Mangold mentioned that he sought an actress capable of standing her ground as the character. “Joan emerged as a young talent in the folk scene,” he explained. “I wanted someone who could challenge Bob and also match him, because Dylan is quite powerful himself.

As per the director’s statement, Barbaro effectively portrayed the seriousness and maturity needed by Baez. She managed to act alongside Chalamet while still maintaining a distinct presence, which created the necessary tension between the characters. The director further mentioned that this strength was exactly what he had envisioned in Monica since the first time she auditioned for the film.

A Complete Unknown will be released in theaters on December 25.  

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2024-11-15 18:42