What's Inside?
- Maria Bakalova, Oscar-nominated Bulgarian actress, rose to fame with Borat Subsequent Moviefilm and continues to expand her Hollywood career.
- Recent Instagram post featuring Dave Bautista and Maria Bakalova sparked dating rumors, igniting social media buzz about their rumored relationship.
- Bakalova, now based in Los Angeles, balances international film roles with her passion for representing Bulgarian and Eastern European stories globally.
Hollywood fans are buzzing after a recent Instagram exchange between Dave Bautista and Maria Bakalova set off relationship rumors. The two stars, who appeared together in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, have kept their personal lives private, but their latest interaction has drawn plenty of attention. While neither has confirmed a romance, the intrigue has shifted the spotlight onto Bakalova, a rising Bulgarian actress with an impressive career already under her belt.
Maria Bakalova is Rumored to be Dating Dave Bautista
The speculation began when Bakalova posted a casual selfie with Dave Bautista on her official Instagram. The snapshot alone would have been enough to stir curiosity, but what caught fans’ eyes was Bautista’s response: a simple red heart emoji. It didn’t take long for the comment to fuel online chatter about whether their bond is purely friendship or something more.
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The pair first crossed paths while filming James Gunn’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), where Bautista reprised his role as Drax the Destroyer and Bakalova voiced Cosmo the Spacedog. Their shared Marvel experience created a natural connection, though fans are left guessing if their relationship has evolved beyond co-stars. For now, the two remain silent on the subject, leaving the mystery to play out on social media.
Maria Bakalova is a Bulgarian Actress with Golden Globe and Oscar Nomination
Bakalova’s path to Hollywood stardom began far from Los Angeles. Born in Burgas, Bulgaria, on June 4, 1996, she trained at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia before breaking into European cinema. Her big break came in 2020 with Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, where she played Tutar, the daughter of Sacha Baron Cohen’s infamous character.
The performance stunned critics and earned her a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy. She also became the first Bulgarian actor nominated for an Academy Award, earning recognition from the Oscars, BAFTA, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Looking back, Bakalova credits Baron Cohen as her most influential mentor, saying, “Even though I studied acting theatrically and classically at school, high school and university, he was my most important teacher. Watching him, listening to him, getting to know how he approaches the scene… has been the highlight of my life,” she told PEOPLE.
Maria Bakalova’s Filmography, Breakout Role and More
While Borat Subsequent Moviefilm catapulted her into the global spotlight, Bakalova’s career has expanded across genres. She appeared in the horror-comedy Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), the Marvel blockbuster Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, and more recently, took on the role of Ivana Trump in The Apprentice (2024).
Her versatility also extends to independent cinema. Films like Women Do Cry (2021) and Fairyland (2023) highlighted her dramatic range, while her voice work as Cosmo further showcased her adaptability. Beyond acting, she co-founded Five Oceans, a production company dedicated to amplifying Eastern European voices in global storytelling.
Maria Bakalova’s Early Life
Bakalova’s artistic foundation was built early. She started taking flute and singing lessons at age six, performing in choirs that toured across Europe. By 12, she was enrolled in drama and theater programs, balancing music with her growing love for acting. A self-described “super-disciplined child,” she immersed herself in literature, becoming captivated by Dostoyevsky and Gabriel García Márquez during her teenage years.
Her early film credits in Bulgaria, such as Transgression (2017) and The Father (2019), reflected her grounding in serious dramatic roles. These projects earned her critical praise at European festivals before Hollywood took notice.
Maria Bakalova Prefers to Stay in Los Angeles
Though the 29-year-old once envisioned a career in Denmark’s theater scene, fate brought her to Los Angeles. After filming Borat Subsequent Moviefilm in 2019, she quickly fell for the city’s energy and people. “I never expected to even come to America,” she admitted in an exclusive chat with PEOPLE. “Then a magical thing happened, and I was introduced to Sacha Baron Cohen… I just fell in love with the place. And I fell in love with the people who live here.”
Now based in L.A., she divides her time between Hollywood projects and visits back home to Bulgaria, where her parents still live. Despite recent natural disasters she experienced firsthand in California, she emphasizes the importance of community, adding, “Yes, your house is your home, but your life is the most important thing, your life and the life of your pets, the creatures that you love.”
