Top Gun: Maverick premiered in Cinemas worldwide in May 2022. Fans can't stop gushing about the creative genius that is Tom Cruise, and are equally curious about the female fighter pilot in the movie. Monica Barbaro portrays Lt. Natasha 'Phoenix' Trace in the sequel to the 1985 cult classic, Top Gun. It was Barbaro's first major movie role; the star has previously appeared in numerous TV shows. Being part of the extraordinary Top Gun: Maverick cast will without a doubt pave way for more lucrative career opportunities for the star.
Playing 'Phoenix' is a career-defining moment for Barbaro, who performed most of her own stunts. She and the other actors underwent rigorous training to get whipped in shape to play fighter pilots. They worked with an aerial coordinator and actually flew in the airborne cockpits. How awesome is that? Top Gun: Maverick was a dream come true for Monica, who'd seen the original Top Gun movie in college. After 40 hours of intense training, the star was ready to play a fighter pilot.
Monica Is A Star On The Rise
Fans may recognize Monica from several TV shows, like Chicago Justice, The Good Cop, and Chicago P.D. One would say, she was primed for her ultimate role in Top Gun: Maverick. At 32 years old, Barbaro finally cemented her place in the industry. Top Gun: Maverick is getting better reviews than the original, and everybody is talking about the cast. The movie is without a doubt her breakout role, she's a star on the rise.
Since Top Gun: Maverick, Monica has exciting projects lined up. She is currently filming a spy series with Arnold Schwarzenegger, and she dished on the series.
Monica told Elle, "It’s all very much under wraps because we’re filming right now. But it is super fun, and I’m really glad I’ve had this stunt experience in Top Gun to bring with me here. Just to validate the expectation that you rehearse something a lot in order to get it right, to do on the day. "
The star is also filming a romantic comedy with Diego Boneta called Midnight. Additionally, she has a TV series called Army of The Dead: Lost Vegas, and a video game in post-production.
How Did She Survive The Intense Top Gun Training?
The actors went through three months of grueling training to learn to fly the planes in the movie. They worked with the Navy and the elite military flight school, Top Gun. Tom wasn't cutting any corners, he wanted to put out something that felt authentic and as close to reality as possible. Monica and her co-stars also received underwater training, as well as flying in different planes.
Barbaro is a trained ballerina. She has a degree in dance from the New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. This came in handy during training for the movie. She is said to be one of the actors who didn't throw up during her flight sequences. Monica received high praise from Tom Cruise during their appearance on The Late Late Show with James Corden.
In an interview with Glamour, Monica disclosed, "There was a funny moment where a couple of the guys were saying they hated going upside down, and I was like, ‘I’ve been going upside down forever. I would do handstands before flights…. It helped me control some of the weird feelings of blood rushing to spaces you don’t usually want it to."
She Liked Having A Serious Role
Monica's character is the only woman in the male-dominated squadron, and she definitely held her own. Critics have praised the fact that 'Phoenix' wasn't relegated to a love interest role. Phoenix is an equal among her peers; she commanded respect and earned her place. The character is viewed by many as an ode to the countless servicewomen who don't often get the recognition they deserve.
Barbaro liked having a serious role and not just playing one of the lead actor's love interest. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, she revealed, "When I first booked the role, there was a rumor going around that I was playing Miles’ love interest. Which was funny because one of my favorite things about Phoenix is that she’s not a love interest. In this context, it was just a real honor to get to be a highly capable professional who’s taken seriously."
Monica got to do most of her own stunts, what she lacks in experience, she made up for in performance. She starred alongside seasoned actors like Jennifer Connolly, Val Kilmer and John Hamm.
