Where You've Seen The Cast Of Warrior Nun Before
"Warrior Nun" is a 2020 fantasy drama that is based on the comic book character Warrior Nun Areala originally from the "Ninja High School" series from the early '90s. The Netflix show sees a young woman brought back to life and join an ancient Catholic order that trains nuns to fight demonic entities that pose a threat to life on Earth. Having drawn comparisons to the likes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," it was renewed for a second season almost immediately after its first batch of episodes was released. Starring an ensemble cast made up of a diverse set of actors from around the world, it's a show that may not feature as many familiar faces as you'd expect from such a high-profile Netflix project.
With "Warrior Nun" returning to the streaming service in 2022 for a second season, now seems like the perfect time to look back at the cast of the show and see where you might know them from, especially since many of them have appeared in other films and television shows since Season 1.
Alba Baptista as Ava Silva
Alba Baptista is the person that the show's creator Simon Barry and Netflix chose to front the fantasy drama series, where she plays the title character Ava Silva. Ava is a figure that has been invented for the series, rather than a character taken directly from the comics. A 19-year-old former quadriplegic, she was murdered by her caretaker Sister Frances and resurrected by a holy relic that grants her a number of special abilities. Ava now works with the Order of the Cruciform Sword to fight demons on Earth.
Unless they happen to be fans of Portuguese telenovelas, even avid moviegoers and television viewers will likely be largely unfamiliar with Baptista, despite the fact that she leads the cast of "Warrior Nun." A Portuguese actor, her roles have largely been confined to non-English speaking projects including the series "A Impostora" and "Jogo Duplo." Her only other English-language role outside of "Warrior Nun" is the 2022 film "Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris." Speaking to W Magazine, Baptista explained that she wanted to be an actor from a young age and has not quite grown accustomed to the publicity that comes with appearing in Hollywood productions.
Toya Turner as Shotgun Mary
Lifted directly from the comics, Shotgun Mary is an abrasive but incredibly loyal fighter for the Order of the Cruciform Sword. Despite the fact that she is not technically a nun or even a religious person, she fights alongside the sisters in their battles against the demonic entities encroaching on Earth. An expert in many forms of combat, she has shown a particular interest and skill in using guns — specifically shotguns — as her name suggests. Toya Turner portrays the character in the Netflix series.
Turner has stated that her role in "Warrior Nun" is the biggest of her career so far and allowed her to move to LA to pursue an acting career permanently (via Coming Soon). However, it's far from her first role. Turner has been active in showbusiness since 2006 when she made an appearance in the short film "Adia." Since then, she has had guest roles in the likes of "Chicago Fire," "Empire," and "Easy." More recently, she had roles in "Dead Women Walking" and "Animator" and played a character named Gabrielle in two 2022 episodes of the hit medical drama "New Amsterdam."
Thekla Reuten as Jillian Salvius
A take on the nefarious Julian Salvius from the "Warrior Nun Areala" comics, Jillian Salvius is essentially the same person but switched to a female version for the television series. Thekla Reuten plays the show's major antagonist who acts as the CEO of ARQ-Tech, a company set up in opposition to the Catholic Church. The comics suggest Julian may be Julius the Apostate, seemingly surviving thousands of years after his supposed death, although the television incarnation of the character makes no reference to this and discards much of Julian's backstory.
Reuten is a Dutch actor who has mostly appeared in television, films, and a range of theatrical productions based in the Netherlands, but she's not a complete stranger to American audiences. Fans of "Lost" might recognize her as Elsa, a doomed love interest of Sayid Jarrah (Naveen Andrews) in the 2008 episode "The Economist." She's also had recurring roles in series such as "Sleeper Cell," "Lucky Man," and "Hidden" — a BBC crime drama crime drama that has been compared to "The Bridge" (via The Guardian). The actor has also dubbed voices for a number of movies for her native country, including "How to Train Your Dragon 2."
Lorena Andrea as Sister Lilith
In the comics, Lilith is a demon princess from Hell. Unlike many of her contemporaries, though, she is not entirely evil. In fact, she could be said to be something of a kind and loving demon who is not focused on gaining revenge against Heaven and God. Played by Lorena Andrea for the Netflix adaptation, she keeps her demonic powers in the show but is also part of the Order of the Cruciform Sword.
Andrea hails from London and, according to MEAWW, studied in Spain for three years in her youth. While still a teenager she had a role in the BBC children's show "The Pod" and returned to acting in 2015 with a role in the short film "Lia." She also appeared in the 2017 film "Papillon" along with "Unhinged" and "Infamous Six." She's also slated for the role of Perla in the upcoming live-action adaptation of "The Little Mermaid."
Kristina Tonteri-Young as Sister Beatrice
Another member of the Order of the Cruciform Sword, Sister Beatrice is a character that has no direct basis in the original comic series. Kristina Tonteri-Young takes on the role, with Beatrice largely acting as the person responsible for planning and organizing the group's strategies.
A former ballet dancer who trained at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Tonteri-Young appeared in several productions throughout 2010 and 2011 including "Sleeping Beauty," and later studied acting at the Royala Academy of Dramatic Art in London (via Flaunt). Toneri-Young went on to make her theatrical debut in 2014, appearing in "The Crocodile's Gift" at the Everyman Theatre before going on to play Henrietta Iscariot in "The Last Days of Judas Iscariot."
While "Warrior Nun" marks her first major role in film or television, she has since gone on to be cast in the film "A Christmas Gift from Bob" and the sci-fi action film "Outside the Wire" starring Anthony Mackie. In 2021, the actor put her ballet skills to good use playing a dancer in "Dancing Through the Shadow."
Tristán Ulloa as Father Vincent
A priest and leader within the Order of the Cruciform Sword, Tristán Ulloa's character Father Vincent was once a criminal who turned to the church for salvation. Outwardly an unassuming and gentle man, it is revealed at the end of the first season that he is truly loyal to the disguised demon Adriel and plans to use Ava as a way of unleashing his master onto the world.
Ulloa is well known in Spain for his work in a variety of television series and films (via Teller Report). His work is not just restricted to acting, though, as he's also done a bit of writing and directing. American audiences might know him from his minor roles in TV series like "Narcos" and "Snatch" (starring Rupert Grint, perhaps wisely attempting to add some edge to his image after more than a decade as Ron Weasley) as well as the 2019 Tim Miller-directed film "Terminator: Dark Fate."
Olivia Delcán as Sister Camila
Olivia Delcán rounds out the main cast of "Warrior Nun," portraying the character of Sister Camila. Like many of the other figures in the series, she has no direct counterpart in the comics but is inspired by a variety of characters. Arguably the shyest and most humble of the sisters fighting alongside the Warrior Nun, Camila is an expert computer hacker who is devoted to her family in the Order of the Cruciform Sword.
Having studied drama at the William Esper Studio in New York, Delcán has been working since 2015. Speaking to the Be More Super podcast, she explained that she expected the Netflix series to make her more famous around the world, although her roles since then have been limited to Spanish releases including the film "Josefina" and the television series "Doctor Portuondo." The actor has also appeared in "Isla Bonita" and "Drug Squad: Costa del Sol" in recent years.
Joaquim de Almeida as Cardinal Duretti
Joaquim de Almeida plays Cardinal Duretti in "Warrior Nun," the official leader of the order as the highest-ranking clergyman within the organization. He eventually ascends to become Pope by the end of the first season but is revealed to have also been duped by Father Vincent, and attempts to replace the Order of the Cruciform Sword with his own picks.
A native of Portugal, de Almeida is well-known in his home country and has worked extensively in film and theater. Viewers from across the world may well recognize the actor as he has appeared in a variety of international productions, from the Italian film "Good Morning, Babylon" and the Brazilian release "The Xango from Baker Street," winning numerous awards. He may be most recognizable for his roles in 1982's "The Soldier" and the 1994 Harrison Ford thriller "Clear and Present Danger," which also starred James Earl Jones and Willem Dafoe. The actor has also appeared in "Behind Enemy Lines," "One Man's Hero," and the crime thriller TV series "Training Day." He also menaced Antonio Banderas and Salma Hayek as the diabolical crime lord Bucho in 1995's classic action romp "Desperado."
Peter De Jersey as Kristian Schaefer
A high-ranking executive at ARQ-Tech, the company run by Jillian Salvius, Kristian Schaefer plays something of a minor antagonist role in "Warrior Nun." Having previously worked at the Vatican and been heavily involved in the Catholic Church, he left after becoming disillusioned with religion.
Peter de Jersey is probably best known for his role as Jerome Taylor in the 2004 season of the long-running British crime series "The Bill." He has also been a recurring actor in both "Holby City" and the soap opera "Coronation Street."
American audiences are most likely to recognize him from all three seasons of the international crossover hit mystery "Broadchurch," portraying a forensic police officer who works with characters played by David Tennant and Olivia Colman. More recently, he appeared in two episodes of Netflix's "The Sandman" and has voiced characters in "Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War III" and "Assassin's Creed: Syndicate."
Lope Haydn Evans as Michael Salvius
Michael Salvius, portrayed by child actor Lope Haydn Evans, is a mysterious but important figure within the world of "Warrior Nun." The child of Jillian Salvius, he was born thanks to what his mother calls a miracle and is infused with the material known as divinium to keep him alive. The demon Adriel forms a strong connection with the boy, whispering in his ear while masquerading as an angel.
It shouldn't be all that surprising that child actor Evans doesn't have many credits to his name. In fact, "Warrior Nun" is his first role in a major production. However, the youngster has been involved in drama from a young age, largely thanks to the encouragement of his mother. According to SUR in English, he proved talented early on, landing the lead roles in a number of school plays. Since appearing in the Netflix series, he has also had a part in the Australian comedy-drama series "Five Bedrooms."
Sylvia De Fanti as Mother Superion
Sylvia De Fanti's character Mother Superion has an integral role within the Order of the Cruciform Sword. It falls on her to train the Warrior Nun and the various sisters, making Superion incredibly influential. She once bore the holy artifact known as the Halo and faces off against Cardinal Duretti when he seeks to change the Order.
De Fanti has said she thoroughly researched her role in "Warrior Nun" before filming the series.
"As a serious actor who actually cares about their role should always do, I did my research, yes," she told Geek Spin. "I read the manga to prepare for the audition and tried to understand the references of the material they gave me to read for the role." She also noted her familiarity with the "Neon Genesis: Evangelion" and "Tiger Mask" manga.
With screen credits going back to 2002, one of her earlier roles came in the ABC historical drama "Empire," which also features Emily Blunt and marks one of De Fanti's only appearances in an American production aside from "Warrior Nun." The rest of her screen work has been primarily regulated to Italian productions.
Emilio Sakraya as JC
JC only appears in the early episodes of Season 1 but is one of Ava's first allies when she is brought back to life. The pair share an affectionate relationship, if only for a brief time, with Emilio Sakraya's character becoming a protector and companion to the protagonist.
An interview with Vanity Teen revealed that the young German actor is also a skilled musician and singer who is able to play multiple instruments. He started acting when he was just 9 years old and landed his first role in 2010 when he was cast in "Time You Change" (via European Film Promotion). He subsequently had roles in a number of other German television series and films, including a regular part in the crime drama "4 Blocks." Following his high-profile appearance in "Warrior Nun" in 2020, he has had a main role in the sci-fi series "Tribes of Europa."
May Lifschitz as Chanel
Chanel, played by May Simón Lifschitz, is one of the members of JC's gang of petty criminals. Not as fond of Ava as her leader, Chanel only appears in a handful of episodes, and she has a somewhat strained relationship with Ava when the two meet.
According to The Express newspaper, Lifschitz was born in Argentina but grew up in Denmark. She originally worked as a model while still a teenager and appeared in high-profile campaigns for companies such as Adidas before turning to acting in 2015 when she was cast in the short film "Sorte måne." Two years later, she was cast in the television series "Yes No Maybe" and also had roles in "Wild Witch" and "C4." Since getting her big break in "Warrior Nun," she has played Sabine in "Pros and Cons" and Simone Osten in the 2022 television series "Next of Kin."
Dimitri Abold as Randall
Dimitri Abold portrays Randall, a member of the same gang as JC and Chanel, in "Warrior Nun." He met the rest of the group after they traveled through the Alps and came to Amsterdam. Along with JC and the others, he helps Ava as best as he can when they first encounter her.
Of Jamaican and German descent, Abold first began performing while studying at the New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Upon graduating, he has had roles in the short film "Bobby Braun" and the television series "Police Call 110." Warrior Nun" proved to be his breakthrough role, though, and he has gone on to appear in a number of German productions including "Die Chefin" and "Die Kanzlei." He has recently completed filming for "Love Addicts," Amazon Prime's first German comedy series (via Deadline) and is set to appear in the upcoming "The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes" according to Collider.
Charlotte Vega as Zori
Before the events of the series, Zori joins JC and Chanel when all three had a chance encounter in the Alps. Played by Charlotte Vega, Zori has a strong bond with JC and her other friends. She aids Ava in the first few episodes of Season 1 as the nascent warrior nun awakens and finds herself pursued by demonic forces.
Vega has established herself as a leading actor in a variety of television series and films. Although she had originally trained as a horse rider, she switched to acting at the age of 14 and followed in the footsteps of her mother, who had worked in theater (via the Belfast Telegraph).
By 2012, Vega had landed her first role in the Spanish horror film "[Rec] 3: Genesis" and went on to appear in 53 episodes of the soap opera "El secreto de Puente Viejo." Vega was a part of the main cast for "The Refugees" in 2014 and recently starred in the camping trip-based horror "Wrong Turn" as the lead character.
Guiomar Alonso as Areala of Cordoba
Areala of Cordoba, played by Guiomar Alonso, is one of the few characters in "Warrior Nun" with a direct counterpart within the comic series. In both versions, she is the founder of the Order of the Cruciform Sword after she was supposedly resurrected by the angel Adriel during the First Crusade. Since then, she has acted as a guide and mentor for all the subsequent Warrior Nuns as an avatar on Earth.
Alonso may have appeared on your screen more times than you realize, as she has worked as a stunt performer and acting double since the early 2000s. She has over 100 credits to her name as a stunt woman, including projects such as "Andor," "Pennyworth," "Good Omens," "Game of Thrones," and "Wonder Woman," plus she was Emma Watson's stunt double in "Beauty and the Beast." As an actor, she has had roles in "Código fuego" and "Theresa: The Body of Christ," with "Warrior Nun" being her most noteworthy performance where she isn't doubling for a different actor.
William Miller as Adriel
For much of the first season, Adriel is believed to be a benevolent angel on the side of good. Yet, by the last episode, it is revealed that he is in fact a manipulative demon who has conspired to influence many of the events that have taken place.
William Miller portrays the ultimately evil Adriel in "Warrior Nun." Throughout his career, he has appeared in films and television shows from across the world. Having gotten his early breaks in Spanish language television in the early 2000s, he has since had roles in 2004's "Rottweiler," 2016's "The Midnight Man," and the 2014 series "Sr. Ávila." While he appeared in 2018's "The Man Who Killed Don Quixote" directed by Terry Gilliam and starring Adam Driver, American audiences are probably more likely to know him from The CW's post-apocalyptic series "The 100" where he portrayed Paxton "Graveyard" McCreary throughout Season 5 as a major antagonist.
Melina Matthews as Sister Shannon Masters
Sister Shannon Masters is another character that is originally part of the comic book universe of "Warrior Nun." She held the official role of Warrior Nun role before Ava, and her death sparks the events of the first season. There is an ongoing storyline about who exactly conspired to cause her demise.
Melina Matthews hails from Spain but had Welsh and French parents. She moved to London to study at the age of 19 and soon took an interest in acting. Between 2005 and 2006, she appeared in the Catalonian soap opera "El cor de la ciutat" in a recurring role before going on to make her film debut in a minor role in "Savage Grace" starring Julianne Moore. She went on to be cast in both English and Spanish-speaking projects, such as the BBC miniseries "Thirteen" and the drama series "El Príncipe."