Both Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise have become legendary figures in Hollywood with their significant contributions and remarkable performances. While both Hollywood stars have established themselves as unstoppable forces in the world of cinema, actress Monica Barbaro, who had the privilege to work with both, has noted their vastly different approaches to their craft.
The Contrasting Dynamics Between Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise
Monica Barbaro has worked closely with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Tom Cruise in FUBAR and Top Gun: Maverick, respectively, which allowed her to note the contrasting dynamics between the two action stars. “It’s funny, they could not be more opposite,” she told Variety.
As per Barbaro, the Oblivion star, who is known to be a perfectionist, likes to be significantly involved in the production as he frequently asks questions and actively works on his scenes. However, The Terminator star prefers a more laid-back approach, enjoying cigars during breaks.
The Top Gun: Maverick actress shared,
Tom asks a lot of questions and wants to understand every single piece of what’s going on. Arnold, if I started asking questions, he’d be like, “Better not to know.” — Arnold is smoking cigars between takes, and Tom is working on the next seven scenes or doing push-ups or something.
The At Midnight star further shared that despite their differences, both actors share a common ground in their professionalism and dedication. “But they’re both very professional,” The Good Cop actress said as she explained,
They are complete opposites in their energy and how they approach the work, but they both show up knowing their lines, work really hard and do not let the crew waste any time on their behalf.
During her conversation, the FUBAR star also clarified that by stating their varied approach she does not mean to imply that one is superior to the other. “It’s not to say that one approach is better than the other, but it’s just night and day,” she said, emphasizing that despite their distinct approach, both movie stars really care about their work.
Arnold Schwarzenegger Stops at Nothing Amid Chess Game
During her conversation with Variety, Monica Barbaro also shared an on-set anecdote involving the Predator star Arnold Schwarzenegger. She shared that the 76-year-old actor is an avid chess enthusiast and does not stop a game for anything.
“Arnold loves a good chess game, and he will not stop it for anything — literally anything,” she said. The actress recalled the incident when everyone went into his trailer to wish him a Happy Birthday, however, Schwarzenegger, who was busy in a chess game said, “I have to finish this chess game.”
“And we’re like, ‘OK, and we’ll be outside,’ and marched out with our candles,” she recalled. Barbaro starred alongside Schwarzenegger in the Netflix action comedy series FUBAR, as his daughter. The show follows a CIA officer, who discovers a family secret on the verge of his retirement.
Netflix renewed the action comedy series for a second season soon after its release and both Barbaro and Schwarzenegger are set to reprise their respective roles alongside The Matrix star Carrie-Anne Moss.
FUBAR is available to stream on Netflix.
Top Gun: Maverick is available to stream on Paramount+.
