“Top Gun: Maverick” star Monica Barbaro helped the high-flying film franchise reach new heights through her portrayal of a groundbreaking character. The actress says it was “a huge honor” to represent female Navy pilots with her depiction of Natasha “Phoenix” Trace, a graduate of the Top Gun academy with a reputation for having her colleagues’ backs. She worked with real-life women aviators to prepare for the film, which soars into theaters Friday. “It immediately was like, OK, I have really big shoes to fill with the character,” Barbaro told the Daily News. “But I lucked out. Everyone really …
