"How can anyone have an intelligent conversation with me when I'm half-naked on the red carpet?"

Monica Barbaro, the 36-year-old actress who rose to fame through her role in Top Gun: Maverick, has become increasingly recognizable in recent years. After spending several years working behind the scenes, securing roles in films and television shows, she has emerged as a prominent figure in Hollywood. Her latest projects include starring alongside Timothée Chalamet in a biographical film about Bob Dylan, and appearing in One Night Only, a unique romantic comedy co-starring Callum Turner. She is also filming Artificial, a film exploring the use of OpenAI technology, and recently appeared on the set of the upcoming Ocean’s 11 sequel with Margot Robbie and Bradley Cooper. Despite her growing fame, Barbaro has always prioritized meaningful roles over public attention. However, being recognized as a young star, especially after walking beside Spider-Man, has made it difficult to remain under the radar. In a recent interview with The Telegraph, she spoke candidly about her career and new film. One Night Only is described as an unusual romantic comedy in which an authoritarian right-wing government makes premarital sex illegal except once a year. The film follows the story of one such night in New York City. “Premise is crazy,” Barbaro said. “You immediately have a verdict on it, but as soon as you think about how the world would look like under such rules, you’re drawn in. I can’t remember another romantic comedy where the world is so different. I hope it will be a little cathartic for people who go out and try to find love while trying to ignore the turbulent state of the world. It was really fun to shoot.” She praised Callum Turner, whose potential for a Bond role has been widely discussed. “He’s a perfect combination of self-confidence and a sort of responsibility towards himself, but never too much in showing off his presence.” Although they’ve grown close, she did not attend Turner’s wedding to pop star Doormat Lip in Italy this summer, saying it looked “beautiful.” Barbaro noted the advantage of shooting a film that takes place within 24 hours, it avoids the need for frequent costume changes. However, her character wore a dress with a neckline that was quite revealing, something she found uncomfortable. “It was very funny to take all that discomfort out because it's such a real experience of wearing something like that. I had so many moments before on red carpets where I just thought, ‘Everything is outside! How do I lead a professional, intelligent conversation with people I meet at this event if I’m still half-naked?’” she laughed. Looking ahead, Barbaro expressed excitement about her upcoming project on artificial intelligence. “This was such a different approach. It’s so hot a topic...” she added, noting it could be controversial with some audiences. “Yes, you could say that. Also, I feel like I'm in a minefield. You know, big tech companies are somehow all bosses now. All our secrets are in our phones. So, in terms of totalitarian power, it's somewhat scary,” she concluded.