Maria Bakalova

Maria Valcheva Bakalova (born June 4, 1996) is a celebrated actress from Bulgaria. She has garnered several prestigious awards, including a Critics' Choice Movie Award, and has received nominations for an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, and Golden Globe Award.

Bakalova grew up in Burgas, where she began her acting journey in Bulgarian cinema while studying at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts. She primarily took on dramatic roles in films like Transgression (2017), The Father (2019), Last Call (2020), and Women Do Cry (2021). Her breakout performance came in the 2020 mockumentary Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, which led to her nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.

Following her rise to fame, Bakalova has explored a variety of film genres, including her roles in Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022) and The Apprentice (2024). Additionally, she has lent her voice to characters in major productions, such as Cosmo the Spacedog in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) and in the upcoming DC Universe series Creature Commandos (2024).

Bakalova’s impressive career continues to evolve, showcasing her versatility and talent in the entertainment industry.