Joan Baez has spoken out about the upcoming Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown, praising actress Monica Barbaro’s performance in bringing her to life on screen. The film, directed by James Mangold, stars Timothée Chalamet as Dylan during his early rise in the 1960s folk scene. While fans have long speculated on how Dylan’s closest collaborators would be represented, Baez’s words carry particular weight given her central role in his story.

“I loved what she did in the film,” Baez said in a recent interview, referring to Barbaro’s nuanced performance. The legendary singer-songwriter added that she felt Barbaro managed to capture both her youthful energy and the vulnerability she experienced during her time with Dylan. For Baez, the portrayal was not just an imitation but a reminder of the turbulent emotions that defined that era.

Baez and Dylan’s relationship has long been one of the most fascinating chapters in folk history. The two met in the early 1960s, quickly becoming both musical collaborators and romantic partners. However, Dylan’s decision to marry Sara Lownds in 1965 left Baez heartbroken, and their personal and professional ties were never quite the same afterward.

The tension and heartbreak would later surface in Baez’s own music, most famously in her 1975 classic “Diamonds and Rust.” The song, often interpreted as a reflection on her time with Dylan, remains one of her most powerful works and a defining piece of her legacy. Barbaro’s performance reportedly touches on these emotional depths, bringing to the screen the resilience and artistry that Baez herself embodied.

For Baez, watching her younger self dramatized decades later is both strange and moving. She acknowledged that memory and myth often blur together when it comes to Dylan and that the film inevitably takes creative liberties. Yet she expressed gratitude that her story is being told with care, allowing new generations to see the complexities behind the music.

A Complete Unknown is set to premiere next year, with Chalamet performing Dylan’s songs live rather than lip-syncing. The project has already generated enormous buzz for its ambitious scope and star-studded cast. With Baez’s endorsement of Barbaro’s role, anticipation has only grown among fans eager to revisit one of music’s most iconic—and complicated—love stories.