The Nun 2: discover the face of the one hiding under the mask of the demon

She has been playing the terrifying nun in the Conjuring saga for 7 years and is currently starring in The Nun 2, the second spin-off dedicated to the past of the demon Valak. Who is Bonnie Aarons and where have you seen her before?

Born in Los Angeles in 1979, Bonnie Aarons was passionate about comedy from an early age. She made her debut on the big screen in 1994 in extra roles: a prostitute in Exit to Eden by Garry Marshall, a female prophet in Crook in spite of himself…

Bonnie Aarons: from homeless for David Lynch to demonic nun

From 2001, she traumatized an entire generation by playing the homeless woman in David Lynch’s film, Mulholland Drive. A short but notable appearance.

The same year she became Baroness Joy von Troken in Princess Despite Herself, a role she reprized for the sequel to the film which revealed Anne Hathaway, A Princess’s Wedding.

She then appears in the casting of the horror film To Hell by Sam Raimi, Fighter by David O. Russell (with whom she will collaborate a second time for Happiness Therapy), or even Valentine’s day for which she reunites with Garry Marshall.

In 2015, his slender figure and angular face seduced Rihanna who offered him a role in her music video ANTIdiary (Room 3). If none of these films really allowed him to make a name for himself, his role as a demon in the Conjuring Cinematographic Universe opened the doors to horror cinema wide for him.

Warner Bros.

The nun made her entry into popular culture and became one of the notable monsters of cinema alongside the clown Pennywise or the vampire Dracula. For Michael Chaves, the director of Conjuring 3 and The Nun 2“the demonic nun is one of the legendary monsters of horror cinema. As soon as we see it on a poster, it reminds us a little of Dracula. It is timeless. He is one of the absolute icons of horror cinema and the most formidable antagonists of the seventh art.*”

The habit makes the nun

In 2018, when The Nonne was released, producer Peter Safran explained: “James Wan knew precisely the style he wanted to give to the Evil Nun. We met a lot of actresses, but as soon as we saw Bonnie, and noticed the striking shape of her face, we all said, ‘That’s exactly what we want. She has to play the part.”

For his part, Corin Hardy, director of the first film, said during the promotion of his film: “It was essential that Bonnie play the character again. Of course, there is nothing scary about her in life, but when she is made up and wears a nun’s habit, she arouses fear. It was extremely destabilizing“.

Warner bros

And the public seems to agree since the first film centered on the character grossed more than $365.5 million at the box office. It is the most lucrative film of the saga.

Yet last August, in the midst of an actors’ and screenwriters’ strike, Bonnie Aarons files suit against Warner Bros. for non-compliance with his contract.

The nun files a lawsuit against Warner Bros.

According to The Hollywood Reporterwho was able to view the complaint, Bonnie Aarons was allegedly paid $71,500 for her role in The Nun. Her contract provided for a bonus of $175,000 linked to box office results, as well as a share of profits from derivative products (dolls, jewelry and posters) linked to her character.

Bestimage

The feature film grossed more than $365 million on a budget of $22 million, yet Bonnie Aarons did not receive the promised $175,000. The actress also accuses the studio of hiding from her the true amount of income earned from the sale of derivative products.

“Instead of transparently accounting and paying, Warner Bros. obfuscates and hides the true amount of Ms. Aarons’ legitimate share of merchandising revenue, while continuing to exploit her image.”says the complaint filed in Los Angeles Superior Court.

Bonnie Aarons claims that Warner Bros. sent her incomplete documentation showing a revenue share that she said was “inconsistent with the extensive merchandising activities related to her character.” The latter is supposed to receive between “5 and 50% of the income generated by derivative products on a pro rata basis”.

Bestimage

Will the nun return in the Conjuring saga?

The complaint alleges a breach of contract and a violation of the implied covenant of good faith, which prohibits acting in a manner that undermines the benefits of an agreement to the other party. In this case, the plaintiff claims that this obligation was violated.

A case which arises in the midst of conflict between American actors and screenwriters with the studios which refuse to increase salaries.

It is unknown if another film centered on the character is planned and if the nun will return in future films of the Conjuring Cinematic Universe, but the presence in the cast of Bonnie Aarons in these future works seems compromised.

* comments from the press kit