Maria Bakalova

Maria Valcheva Bakalova (born 4 June 1996 in Burgas, Bulgaria) is a critically acclaimed Bulgarian actress who burst onto the international scene with her breakout role as Tutar Sagdiyev in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020). Raised by a nurse mother, Rumyana, and a chemist father, Valcho, Bakalova showed early artistic promise, taking flute lessons at six, singing in a touring choir, and enrolling in acting classes by age twelve. Her teenage years were marked by an avid appetite for literature, devouring the works of García Márquez, Borges, and Bulgakov, which she credits with shaping her emotional depth on screen. After completing a drama major at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia, she appeared in a series of Bulgarian productions, including Transgression (2017) where she portrayed Yana, and the acclaimed The Father (2019), a brief flash‑back role that contributed to the film’s Crystal Globe win at Karlovy Vary. Bakalova’s career accelerated dramatically when she was cast opposite Sacha Baron Cohen, delivering a bold, fearless performance that earned her a historic Academy Award nomination, making her the first Bulgarian actress to be recognized in the Best Supporting Actress category. She followed this triumph with diverse roles: the haunting drama Women Do Cry (2021), the horror‑comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), and voice work as Cosmo the Spacedog in the Marvel Cinematic Universe’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). In 2024 she portrayed Ivana Trump in The Apprentice and produced the Bulgarian black comedy Triumph, underscoring her expanding influence both in Hollywood and her native film industry. Beyond the screen, Bakalova is an outspoken advocate for Eastern European representation, co‑founding the production company Five Oceans and regularly supporting cultural exchange initiatives. Her accolades include a Critics’ Choice Movie Award, multiple BAFTA and SAG nominations, and repeated appearances on Forbes’ “30 Under 30” and Variety’s “10 Actors to Watch,” cementing her status as a global cinematic talent.