When I sat down with Maria Bakalova on The Movie Dweeb, I couldn’t help but point out a very real pattern in her career lately; she keeps playing these fierce, scene-stealing, iconic women. From her wild turn as Pigtail in The Bad Guys 2 to the brave and bold Princess Ilana Rostovic in DC’s animated series Creature Commandos, it feels like Maria is carving out a cinematic universe all of her own.

So naturally, I had to ask the question: “Have the DC bosses ever spoken to you about bringing Ilana into the live-action world?” Her answer? Relatable honesty mixed with chaotic ambition.

“Um, I don’t know about that because you’ve seen the show. The show is over. She died. Um, I don’t know,” she said with a laugh. “No, I’m really excited about — uh, that’s a complete different subject, but James Gunn is a mastermind behind everything in DC right now. And we witness how great it’s shaping the new world over there.”

It seems her DC dreams are heading in a different direction now… Toward Pigtail. “Now I’m focusing on Pigtail and I want her to get into live action. I think that’s my big dream now. Pigtail, Kitty Cat, Doom, all the three of them to get in live action.”

I joked about just dressing up in a big pig suit and doing it ourselves. She didn’t flinch. “I mean, we can train. We can start looking like them.”

Maria’s DCU Role: Creature Commandos

In the first chapter of James Gunn’s revamped DC Universe, Maria voiced Princess Ilana Rostovic in Creature Commandos, a seven-episode animated series that mixed monsters, soldiers, and misfits. The show stood out for its bold tone and surprising emotional moments, and Maria’s performance as Ilana gave it real heart.

While the character meets her fate during the series (RIP Ilana), her legacy clearly left a mark on both fans and Maria herself. Even though a live-action comeback is unlikely (for now), she still speaks about the experience with admiration, especially when it comes to James Gunn’s role in shaping the wider DC world.

And considering the calibre of the cast, including David Harbour, Indira Varma, Frank Grillo, and Alan Tudyk, Maria more than held her own. While Ilana may not make it out of Creature Commandos, Maria’s voice is now firmly embedded in the DC Universe.

Pigtail Chaos in The Bad Guys 2

But right now, Maria’s attention is fully on her latest animated chaos-agent, Pigtail, in The Bad Guys 2. Teaming up with Natasha Lyonne (Doom) and Danielle Brooks (Kitty Cat), she helps form a new trio of hilarious, unpredictable characters in the DreamWorks sequel.

And it’s clear she’s fallen head over hooves for Pigtail. During our chat, she spoke with real excitement about seeing these characters in live action, possibly even led by herself in costume. “Now I’m focusing on Pigtail… That’s my big dream now.”

There’s something wildly fitting about the idea of Maria charging around in a pig suit, chewing the scenery in a full-blown action-comedy. And judging by the energy she brought to our interview, I’d buy a ticket yesterday.

Maria Bakalova’s Career: From Breakout to Big Time

It’s worth remembering that Maria only burst onto the global scene a few years ago, in Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. Her fearless, hilarious, and unexpectedly emotional turn as Tutar Sagdiyev didn’t just earn laughs; it earned her an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress. A breakout like that is rare, and one that sets the tone for a boundary-pushing career.

Since then, she’s taken on everything from Marvel (Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3) to indie drama to animation. Whether she’s voicing a DC princess or a crime-happy pig, Maria brings a wild, committed energy to every project, and audiences (myself included) can’t get enough.

If her dreams come true, and we do see Pigtail, Doom and Kitty Cat storm the live-action screen? I’ll be in the front row. Probably wearing a snout in solidarity.