Maria Bakalova

Maria Bakalova is a Bulgarian actress and model known for her role as Tutar Sagdiyev in the 2020 mockumentary Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, starring alongside Sacha Baron Cohen. Bakalova earned Golden Globe, SAG, and Critics' Choice Award nominations for her performance in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, becoming the first Bulgarian to ever be nominated for those awards.

Bakalova was born in Burgas, Bulgaria. She began singing lessons and playing the flute around age six. She majored in drama at the Krastyo Sarafov National Academy for Theatre and Film Arts in Sofia, graduating in 2019.

Bakalova started her career acting in Bulgarian films such as 2017's XII A, 2018's Transgression, 2018’s Angels, 2018’s Kalinka, and 2019's The Father.

She received her breakout role in the U.S. when she was cast as Tutar Sagdiyev in the mockumentary Borat Subsequent Moviefilm, the daughter of fictional Kazakh reporter Borat Sagdiyev. Although initially credited as Irina Nowak, reports later revealed her involvement. Critics praised Bakalova's performance, with Matt Fowler of IGN stating that "the film's fantastic find, Maria Bakalova, every bit Sacha Baron Cohen’s on-screen equal, is who, and what, most people will be talking about in the wake of [the film]." Los Angeles Times film critic Justin Chang described Bakalova's performance as "terrific," praising her portrayal of her character’s journey "with madcap energy and touching conviction."