Olivia Rodrigo Chooses Monica Barbaro For Future Biopic

Olivia Rodrigo has already picked who she wants to play her in a future biopic.

In a recent chat with director Cameron Crowe, the pop star named Monica Barbaro as that actress, citing their uncanny resemblance.

That actress already has some experience playing a musician, having transformed into folk music icon Joan Baez for a hit 2024 film.

Speaking to Crowe at the Grammy Museum, Rodrigo was asked who she would want to play her in a biopic, and she didn’t hesitate to name Barbaro.

“Sometimes I see a picture of Monica Barbaro, and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s a picture of me. Oh no, that’s Monica,’” she told the multi-award-winning filmmaker.

While Rodrigo’s main reason for choosing Barbaro was their uncanny resemblance, she also believes Barbaro’s skills make the choice more than just picking a doppelgänger.

She described Barbaro as a “fantastic actress,” a description that Crowe also agreed with at the time.

Netizens React To Olivia Rodrigo’s Biopic Pick

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Following Rodrigo’s revelation, fans of the singer offered varying reactions to her remarks about Barbaro playing her.

“The Olivia Rodrigo biopic actress has not even been born yet,” one user said, a statement that appeared to reference the singer’s young age.

Several other fans felt that, since Rodrigo already had acting experience, she should play the part herself.

“Girl, you. You are an actress. Go play you,” one user wrote, while another stated, “Do what Kneecap did and do it yourself, girl; you’re an actress as well.”

Some other netizens suggested different actresses, with one saying, “I feel like Inde Navarrette could pull it off.”

Rodrigo’s Pick Has Already Played A Music Icon

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Rodrigo’s choice has already stepped into the shoes of a real-life musician, which might have also influenced the singer’s selection.

In the 2024 film A Complete Unknown, Barbaro portrayed activist and musician Joan Baez, starring alongside Timothée Chalamet, who played Bob Dylan.

She earned widespread praise for the role, which is no surprise given the extensive preparation she put into playing the character.

According to reports, Barbaro spent months learning guitar and taking vocal lessons despite having no prior musical background. She also met with Joan Baez during filming to gain insights and ensure her portrayal was accurate.

Eventually, she performed all her songs herself, with everything recorded live on set rather than using prerecorded tracks, as required by the role.

Joan Baez Praised Monica Barbaro’s Performance

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Baez also praised Barbaro, the veteran musician she portrayed in the biopic.

Speaking to her hometown paper, the Marin Independent Journal, Baez shared that she loved what the actress did in the movie.

“If I didn’t think she was good at it, I probably wouldn’t have enjoyed it in general,” she shared.

The iconic singer noted that she was especially pleased with how Barbaro had done her best to replicate her gestures.

“She looked enough like me, and she had my gestures down. You could tell who it was. She worked so hard. Kudos to her for taking the role on,” she continued.

Olivia Rodrigo Already Has The Acting Skills To Play Herself

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A biopic isn’t a likely move for Rodrigo given her age, but if there is any reason for the actress to play herself in the near future, she already has the skills to do so.

The singer was once an acting child star, rising to fame through Disney’s Bizaardvark and later High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.

Since leaving the Disney series after its third season, Rodrigo has focused on her music career and has made a name for herself, earning three Grammy Awards, four MTV Video Music Awards, and seven Billboard Music Awards.