Joan Baez approves of Monica Barbaro's performance in A Complete Unknown

Joan Baez has given her seal of approval to Monica Barbaro's portrayal of her in the Bob Dylan biopic A Complete Unknown.

The folk music legend told her local newspaper, the Marin Independent Journal, that she was impressed by the Top Gun: Maverick star, who learned to sing and play guitar like Baez for the movie.

"I loved what she did in the film," she praised. "If I didn't think she was good at it, I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it in general. But 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."

Barbaro was originally hesitant about speaking to the It Ain't Me Babe singer as part of her research but they eventually had a phone call and she realised that the folk star wouldn't "live or die by what we say about (her) in this movie".

"I can't imagine how surreal it would be to know that someone is sort of dressing up and playing you in a movie. But she really took it in stride," the Best Supporting Actress nominee shared. "She wasn't trying to dictate in any way my response to her. She was like, 'I'm here, I'm open and available for any question you have.' I was really appreciative that she was so generous with me."

Baez, who saw the film at her local cinema 11 days after it was released in December, told the publication that she was also impressed with the musical scenes, which were performed live.

"I thought the music was fantastic," she gushed. "I may be blocking my feelings, but it's an amusing movie. It was fun."

The 84-year-old also approved of Timothée Chalamet's charismatic performance as her former lover, although she noted that the real Dylan was much scruffier in real life.

"I have to come back to that's how it was," she acknowledged. "When he walked into the room, he took up all the oxygen. And so my part was always diminished in his presence. And in that sense the film is accurate."

Both Chalamet and Barbaro are up for Oscars for their performances. The awards take place on 2 March.