Spoiler Alert: This article contains details about Warrior Nun.Warrior Nun accomplished a lot in just two seasons on Netflix before heading into the afterlife. For starters, it became one of Netflix’s highest rated series ever. Season two generated a coveted 100% Fresh Rotten Tomatoes score with a 99% audience score. That final season was loaded with thrills, too. There was nothing like its spin on the popular comic it was based on, and the fun of tracking a gaggle of Warrior Sisters — and a head Warrior Nun — through mayhem, death, and, yes, even resurrection. That would be you, Mother Superion, played to winning ends by Sylvia De Fanti (Empire, Medici). If rising from the dead and figuring out a way to move on from that doesn’t deserve an Emmy nod for Outstanding Supporting Dramatic Actress, what does?
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About the potential Emmy nomination, which De Fanti and her creative team have launched in the official FYC campaign, the actress remains light-hearted. “What’s exciting is that there’s a lot of people who contributed to this campaign,” shared De Fanti. “I struggled with my whole, ‘Oh, can I do this?’ thing, which is a lot about ego. But what really convinced me is the idea that Mother Superion is such a beautiful role that I contributed to and, as an actress, was able to incarnate and to perform.

“I believe all the people that contributed to the creation to the role deserves recognition,” she added. “And yes, it is, of course, very exciting. And it’s not about the long shots, which is, of course, it’s going to be being nominated. But it’s always good to be out there. It’s good to be in the competition.”

Stay tuned on that front. Emmy nominations will be announced Tuesday, July 12. In the meantime, Sylvia De Fanti shared more about her role and the allure of the series with MovieWeb.

A Show Most Actors Pray For
Netflix

Warrior Nun was based on the comic series Warrior Nun Areala by Ben Dunn. It immediately generated buzz on Netflix after it debuted back in July 2020. When news came in December 2022 of its cancelation after just two seasons, fans started praying for more Warrior Nun. The show reportedly had more viewers in season one. In all fairness, the streaming universe wasn’t as packed back in 2020. Data was a factor, apparently.

Related: Warrior Nun Creator Still Hopeful For an Eventual Season 3

The show tracks a 19-year-old woman (Alba Baptista) who wakes up in a morgue with a divine artifact embedded in her back. She discovers she’s now part of an ancient order named The Order of the Cruciform Sword. The order’s mission: fighting demons on Earth. The character of Mother Superion — keeper of the sister crop — stood out for her steely resolve and tenacity.

“When I first read the script, I’d just given birth to my child, and I was like, ‘Okay, there must be a connection there.’ I read the material and I immediately connected with it,” said De Fanti. “I just felt her. The weight of her gravitas really pulled me in.”

De Fanti went on to say that throughout the two-season run, she gave herself notes to cull from and practiced breathwork and bodywork to fully embody the role. “I created a backstory for the character. So, the trauma, the wound, [she has on her face] and what it means to carry a scar in that way… it was a very collaborative process. And I was so happy to know my storyline for the second season.”

The Resurrection of Sylvia de Fanti
Netflix

Season two of Warrior Nun unraveled with gusto. Showrunner Simon Berry and the show’s writers gave viewers plenty to feast on as some characters were left behind, while fan favorites — the love story between Ava and Beatrice, for instance — and others emerged in more prominent fashion, De Fanti’s Mother Superion among them.

Related: 15 Best Limited Series on Netflix to Watch Right Now

In fact, at one point in season two, Mother Superion is killed while trying to protect the Ark. Things get tricky trying to explain that, but bottom line: the Ark is a quantum portal built with Arq-Tech technology. It’s also made with divinium — a super cool thing if you’re tracking this. Basically, when powered with a great energy source, the Ark acts as a portal to the other realm. Somewhere while protecting the Ark, Mother Superion dies, but is resurrected with Ava nearby. Hallelujah.De Fanti noted:

That was the biggest surprise for me. It happens so rarely — to resurrect. It’s not an everyday thing. So, how to manage the transformation was challenging for me, and the scar going away… because it’s so part of the identity right? With Mother Superion’s body healing at the same time, the scar disappeared. It’s fun to track how folks dub Mother Superion. She’s been called “elegant and dangerous, a cross between Beatrix Kiddo (Uma Thurman in Kill Bill) and part Wonder Woman. People Magazine once reported De Fanti as the “One to Watch.” Emmy voters may feel the same way.

When asked what she felt fans connected to on the show, De Fanti shared: “Well, it’s pretty weird. They’re nuns killing people. They’re fighting for a good cause, but I think the whole good/bad thing danced together. It’s not always so clear. That ambivalence makes it interesting. And, of course, the sisterhood community… the young girls fighting strong who are badass. And obviously, everything that is part of the LGBTQAI+ community, and how in those kinds of hierarchical patriarchal societies it’s difficult to come out as the person you are. And power struggles. I think all those things are relatable in our daily lives.”

Catch Warrior Nun on Netflix. Look for the full list of Emmy nominees on July 12.