TL;DR
- Wendy Makkena played Sister Mary Robert in Sister Act.
- She revealed her character had an attraction to Deloris.
- Makkena incorporated queerness into her acting process.
- The attraction adds depth to their relationship.
- Sister Act remains a beloved musical comedy.
In a delightful twist that’s sure to make fans of Sister Act swoon, Wendy Makkena, who portrayed the shy yet lovable Sister Mary Robert, has opened up about a hidden layer of her character that adds a whole new dimension to the iconic film. In a recent chat on the You Might Know Her From podcast, Makkena revealed that her character had “an attraction” to Whoopi Goldberg’s Deloris, and honey, it’s about time someone acknowledged the sizzling chemistry!
Makkena, who graced our screens in the 1992 classic and its 1993 sequel, shared that she infused queerness into her portrayal of Sister Mary Robert, a novice nun who blossoms under the vibrant influence of Deloris. “I thought to myself, ‘How am I gonna then justify how obsessed I sort of am with Deloris?'” she explained. “And then I thought, ‘Well, maybe there’s an attraction.'” Talk about a revelation that could make even the most stoic nun blush!
In the film, Mary Robert is initially portrayed as a timid character, but her relationship with the bold and brassy Deloris helps her come out of her shell and find her voice—both literally and metaphorically. “It occurred to me that possibly, Sister Mary Robert was drawn to Dolores unconsciously, subconsciously… that there was some kind of attraction that not even Sister Mary Robert would have been, given how very innocent she was, aware of,” Makkena confessed. And let’s be real, who wouldn’t be drawn to the fabulousness that is Deloris?
What’s even more intriguing is that this subtle queerness was largely overlooked by the film’s original audience. According to Makkena, it wasn’t until the film’s release that someone pointed out the sexual tension between the two characters. “Out Magazine says that how come nobody has noticed the sexual tension between Deloris and Sister Mary Robert?” she recalled, adding, “I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, they picked up on it.'” Talk about a missed opportunity for some serious fan theories!
Makkena believes this attraction adds stakes to their relationship, saying, “[The attraction] adds stakes, and every actor needs to have a secret.” And what a juicy secret it is! With a third Sister Act film reportedly in the works, we can only hope that this delightful queerness is acknowledged and celebrated in the upcoming sequel.
So, whether you’re a die-hard fan of the original films or just love a good dose of queer representation, Wendy Makkena’s insights into Sister Mary Robert’s character are sure to make you appreciate Sister Act even more. After all, who knew that a musical comedy about nuns could be so fabulously layered? Stay tuned for more updates on the next chapter of this beloved franchise!