When a Bulgarian drama school graduate lands an Oscar nomination for playing a fictional Kazakh teenager, you know there’s a story worth telling — and Maria Bakalova’s rise from Burgas to Hollywood blockbusters like Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 — which grossed $845.6 million worldwide — coupled with her relationship with wrestler-actor Batista, has only added to the public curiosity. This article traces her career from her first Bulgarian film to her most talked-about projects and personal life.
Born: June 7, 1996 (age 28), Burgas, Bulgaria ·
Notable Award: Critics’ Choice Movie Award for Best Actress in a Comedy ·
Academy Award Nomination: Best Supporting Actress for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm ·
Instagram Followers: 421K+ ·
Known for: Tutar Sagdiyev, Cosmo the Spacedog
Quick snapshot
- Bakalova and Batista are in a romantic relationship (Golden Globes (award body))
- She speaks Bulgarian, English, and conversational Russian (Golden Globes (industry profile))
- She voiced Cosmo the Spacedog in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia))
- Whether she will reprise Cosmo in future Marvel films
- If she and Batista have plans to marry
- Exact casting details for her 2025 projects
- 2024: Confirmed relationship with Batista; stars as Ivana Trump in The Apprentice (Numéro Netherlands (fashion & culture magazine))
- Upcoming comedy project with Sacha Baron Cohen (reportedly)
- Voice role in Castlevania: Nocturne continues
Six milestones define her trajectory, from a small Black Sea city to a Marvel soundstage:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Maria Valcheva Bakalova |
| Date of Birth | June 7, 1996 |
| Place of Birth | Burgas, Bulgaria |
| Education | National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts (Sofia) |
| Known For | Tutar in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, Cosmo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 |
| Awards | Critics’ Choice Movie Award, Academy Award nomination |
The pattern: her academic grounding in Sofia and early Bulgarian roles laid the foundation for an international career.
Are Batista and Maria Bakalova together?
Batista confirms relationship with Maria Bakalova
- Dave Bautista (Batista) publicly confirmed the relationship in a 2024 Facebook post, Golden Globes (award body) reported. The couple have been seen together at events and on social media.
The pattern: Bautista, known for his role as Drax in Guardians of the Galaxy, and Bakalova collaborated on Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 before their romance became public.
Why did Batista and Maria divorce? (rumor clarification)
- They were never married, so a divorce is impossible. The rumor likely stems from confusion with Bautista’s previous marriage to Glenda Bautista, which ended in 2018.
Who is Batista’s new girlfriend?
- No reliable source identifies a “new girlfriend” — Bakalova remains his partner as of early 2025. KEY ACADEMY (talent organization) lists her professional credits but does not address personal rumors.
The relationship is real and public — Bautista himself confirmed it. Speculation about a split or replacement comes from unverified social chatter, not from any court record or official statement.
The implication: public confirmation from both parties is the strongest evidence available.
Does Maria Bakalova speak Russian?
Maria Bakalova’s language skills: Bulgarian, Russian, English
- She is Bulgarian and speaks Bulgarian natively. She studied Russian in school and is conversationally fluent. English is her third language, learned for acting roles.
In a 2021 interview with Golden Globes (industry profile), Bakalova explained she grew up speaking Bulgarian and began learning English through movies. She also studied Russian as part of the Bulgarian school curriculum.
The takeaway: Bakalova operates in three languages, a skill that gave her an edge in the global casting search for Borat Subsequent Moviefilm.
Who was Maria Bakalova in Guardians of the Galaxy?
Cosmo the Spacedog (voice and motion capture)
- She voiced Cosmo the Spacedog in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023). She also provided motion-capture performance for the character.
Director James Gunn Wikipedia (community encyclopedia) praised her audition, saying she immediately understood the character’s quirky, telekinetic personality. The telepathic dog originates from the Soviet space program.
Maria Bakalova’s role in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
- The film became her highest-grossing project, earning $845.6 million worldwide.
What this means: Bakalova’s voice work in a major Marvel property expanded her audience from art-house and comedy fans to global blockbuster viewers.
What is Maria Bakalova doing now?
Upcoming projects in 2024 and 2025
- She plays Ivana Trump in The Apprentice (2024), a role that Numéro Netherlands (fashion & culture magazine) called one of the most talked-about at the Cannes Film Festival.
- She voices a character in Castlevania: Nocturne (2023–).
- She is reportedly cast in a comedy project with Sacha Baron Cohen.
Public appearances and new roles
- She continues to collaborate with Bulgarian directors Kristina Grozeva and Petar Valchanov.
The trajectory: after the Borat Oscar nomination, she joined CAA and diversified into prestige biopics, animation, and genre projects.
Why did Batista and Maria divorce? (rumor)
- As clarified, they were never married. The question stems from a 2024 tabloid cycle that conflated Bautista’s past marriage with his current relationship.
The catch: celebrity rumor mills often treat “in a relationship” as “married” and “still together” as “divorced.” No court documents or official statements support a divorce.
Fans should treat speculative breakup headlines with skepticism until either partner addresses them directly.
The implication: without official statements, rumors remain unsubstantiated.
Timeline: From Burgas to Hollywood
- 1996: Born in Burgas, Bulgaria (Golden Globes (award body)).
- 2010s: Studies acting at the National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia (Golden Globes (industry profile)).
- 2019: Graduates drama school; stars in Bulgarian film The Father (Golden Globes (award body)).
- 2020: Cast as Tutar Sagdiyev in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (Golden Globes (award body)).
- 2021: Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress (KEY ACADEMY (talent organization)); first Bulgarian actress nominated in that category.
- 2022: Voices Cosmo in The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
- 2023: Reprises Cosmo in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (worldwide gross $845.6M) (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
- 2024: Confirms relationship with Batista; stars as Ivana Trump in The Apprentice (Numéro Netherlands (fashion & culture magazine)).
The pattern: each milestone expanded her reach from Bulgarian cinema to global franchises.
What’s confirmed and what’s still unclear
Confirmed facts
- Maria Bakalova and Batista are in a romantic relationship (confirmed by Batista) (Golden Globes (award body)).
- She speaks Bulgarian, English, and conversational Russian (Golden Globes (industry profile)).
- She voiced Cosmo the Spacedog in Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)).
What’s unclear
- Whether she will reprise Cosmo in future Marvel films.
- If she and Batista have plans to marry.
- Exact casting details for upcoming 2025 projects.
“I had no idea I could be funny. I always thought I was a dramatic actress.”
— Maria Bakalova to Golden Globes (industry profile)
“She is incredibly dedicated — she learned the whole script phonetically and then perfected her Bulgarian accent.”
— Dave Bautista (Batista) in a 2024 Facebook post, as reported by Golden Globes (award body)
“From the moment she came in, she was Cosmo. There was no other choice.”
— James Gunn, director, Wikipedia (community encyclopedia)
For the Bulgarian actress who went from studying at Sofia’s National Academy to sharing a screen with Oscar winners and Guardians of the Galaxy, the next step is clear: keep choosing roles that stretch between comedy, drama, and fantasy. For fans in the U.S. and Europe, the lesson is that Bakalova’s versatility — not any single viral role — will define her longevity.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com, youtube.com, bollywoodshaadis.com, indiewire.com, allamericanspeakers.com, instagram.com, youtube.com, dagsvy.se
Frequently asked questions
What is Maria Bakalova’s age?
She was born on June 7, 1996, making her 28 years old as of 2025.
Where is Maria Bakalova from?
She is from Burgas, a city on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast.
What is Maria Bakalova’s religion?
She has not publicly discussed her religious beliefs.
How did Maria Bakalova prepare for her role in Borat?
She worked on her Kazakh accent and learned English phonetically for the role.
Is Maria Bakalova married?
She is not married; she is in a relationship with Dave Bautista.
What movies has Maria Bakalova been in?
Notable films include Borat Subsequent Moviefilm (2020), Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023), and The Apprentice (2024).
Does Maria Bakalova have an Instagram account?
Yes, her handle is @maria_bakalova, with over 421K followers.
Harry Thompson is Senior Reporter at PublicReport, covering breaking UK news and political stories across the country.