Bonnie Aarons

Bonnie Aarons (born September 9, 1960) is an American actress. She is best known for her roles as the Nun, a personification of the demon Valak, in The Conjuring Universe (2016–present), starring in The Conjuring 2, The Nun (2018) and The Nun II (2023). Other roles include The Bum in Mulholland Drive (2001), Baroness Joy von Troken in The Princess Diaries (2001) and its sequel, The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004).

Career Aarons attended acting school in New York City and found work in Europe, where she acted in short films and commercials. Her first American film was 1994's Exit to Eden, portraying a prostitute. She then appeared in the Roger Corman-produced "woman in prison" film, Caged Heat 3000. Aarons already had notable roles in other horror movies, such as I Know Who Killed Me, and Drag Me to Hell. She also had a short but memorable role in David Lynch's Mulholland Drive as a monstrous bum behind a dumpster, a role she reprised 24 years later on the Netflix talk show Everybody's Live with John Mulaney. Since 2016, Aarons has starred in the Conjuring Universe making her first appearance in the franchise's second main film The Conjuring 2, portraying a shapeshifting demon by the name of Valak that takes the form of a nun. Aarons was only added during reshoots of the film, but her character was received well with fans and a spin-off was announced shortly after the film's release. Production of The Nun began in May 2017 and the film was released on September 7, 2018. A sequel, The Nun II, was announced in April 2019 and was released on September 8, 2023. In August 2023, Aarons sued Warner Bros., New Line, and Scope productions, the distribution and production companies behind the films in which she starred as the Nun, for breach of contract relating to a lack of pay over merchandising sales.

She appeared in the 2018 film Adi Shankar's Gods and Secrets. In 2022, it was announced that Aarons will be starring in the horror film Camp Pleasant Lake with Michael Paré and Jonathan Lipnicki.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 1994 Exit to Eden The Prostitute 1995 Caged Heat 3000 Mac 1996 Dear God Prophet Woman 1998 Sweet Jane Waitress 2001 Mulholland Drive The Bum The Princess Diaries Baroness Joy von Troken Shallow Hal Spastic Friend #1 2003 Specter's Rock Verna Frenz 2004 The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement Baroness Joy von Troken 2006 Wristcutters: A Love Story Messiah Worshipper 2007 I Know Who Killed Me Fat Teena InAlienable Blue Skinned Woman 2008 Hell Ride Mud Devils Ref One, Two, Many Lastima in the Bathroom 2009 Drag Me to Hell Mother and Daughter at Decathlon Fest 2010 Valentine's Day Strange Lady Dahmer vs. Gacy General Abogados The Fighter Crackeado Bonnie 2012 Silver Linings Playbook Rocky D'Angelo's Mother 2015 Accidental Love Reporter #2 2016 The Conjuring 2 Valak / Demon Nun 2017 Annabelle: Creation Cameo2018 The Nun Adi Shankar's Gods and Secrets Actress 2021 Jakob's Wife The Master Frank Mistress Eden 2023 The Nun II Valak / Demon Nun The Bell Keeper Jodie 2024 Camp Pleasant Lake Esmeralda Little Bites Grandmother 2025 The Conjuring: Last Rites Uncredited cameo appearance Martinez, Margaritas and Murder! Freddy's Agent The Crone Post-production Marioara / The Witch

Television Year Title Role Notes 2019 The Boulet Brothers' Dragula Herself Guest Judge (Season 3 Episode 2) 2021 Guest Judge (Season 4 Episode 6) 2022 The Boulet Brothers' Dragula: Titans Guest Judge (Season 1 Episode 2)2025 Guest Judge (Season 2 Episode 4) Everybody's Live with John Mulaney Dumpster Thing (episode 6)