This summer, Netflix released Warrior Nun, a fantasy drama series about a once paraplegic teen who wakes from the dead and is suddenly tasked with fighting evil on earth with the Order of the Cruciform Sword (OCS). However, Ava, the star, is conflicted and wants to shy away from this responsibility, but it is Sister Mary, aka Shotgun Mary, the two-gun toting and slinging sister who acts almost as a handler to the new Halo-Bearer of the OCS.
While Shotgun Mary is a member of the OCS, she does her own thing, rides a motorcycle, and comes and goes as she pleases. She also seems to be the one assigned to do the dirty jobs or the jobs the other sisters may not mentally be able to complete, but that’s because she’s such a badass. The Warrior Nun cast was very diverse, but it’s still not often we get to see Black women in roles like this, so I was eager to speak with the sister who plays Shotgun Mary, Toya Turner.
Toya is a native of Chicago, who appeared on the acting scene in 2006 in the short film, Adia. In 2009., she was also in Lifetime’s America. However, Toya’s character as Shotgun Mary seems perfect for her bubbly and daring personality. Get better acquainted with Toya below.
Fancy: How would you describe your swagher? What makes Toya, Toya?
Toya: I think mostly my voice, you know. I mean, not just like the sound of it, but how I use it. I’m always trying to make sure that I voice my opinion as much as I need to, especially when it comes to my needs and my wants.
I’m also really kind of laid back, kind of chill. People call me cool. I’ve never called myself that, but people do call me cool. Yeah, and I think I have a little bit of like a tomboy in there since I have two brothers. So that’s just me. I’m just really like laid back and chill. I like to have fun.
Fancy: So your character, Sister Mary, aka Shotgun Mary in Warrior Nun is so badass- I didn’t know how else to put it. But the whole time I was watching, I was like, ‘Oh my God, like! We don’t normally see Black women characters like this.’ So I wanted to know what was your first reaction when you first learned of Shotgun Mary?
Toya: I fell in love with her instantly. I was floored just by the name alone and then also just the fact that she kind of goes on her own journey, and it doesn’t have to do with a counterpart to a man’s narrative or even a counterpart to a white person’s narrative. She has her journey, which was really interesting and important for me. I hadn’t gotten a lot of those roles, so it just stuck out to me.
Fancy: From some of your previous interviews that I watched, I know that you all didn’t perform all of your stunts, but because of the action in the film, I wanted to know was there ever any point where you felt like, ‘hey maybe I can’t do this?’ due to what the scene required?
Toya: Well, I’ve ridden on motorcycles before, but I’ve never actually driven one. So they taught me some basic riding skills, but they wouldn’t even let me ride because they would instead get a stunt person to do it just for safety reasons. And also, if I’m getting thrown into anything in a scene, that is my stunt double Liva (Rafidison).
Yes, I definitely wasn’t trying to do to the motorcycle ones, like actually riding, riding… I probably would have fallen, but with a lot of the action scenes, I leaned in and wanted to do more. They had to tell me that I couldn’t do them. Yeah, I wanted to get thrown into the glass window when the Tarask shows up. But I wasn’t able to. They were like “no.”
My character gets thrown into glass a lot. For example, when I get thrown into the deli glass? That wasn’t me. But it was really fun to lay in it, to be in the after shot because the glass is made of sugar. It’s like a sugar-water base. So it was almost like Willy Wonka or something.
Then when I get thrown into the mirror, yeah, that’s not me either. I wanted that one, though. I thought I could at least have done that one… and no, they wouldn’t let me do that one either. (Laughs) Yeah, but I tried to lean into all of the action sequences that I possibly could, as much as I could.
Fancy: That’s different. I’m listening, thinking I can’t even begin to imagine wanting that. (Laughs.)
Toya: (Laughs) Yeah, Mary gets thrown into three things. So I felt like I deserved to at least experience one of them, but I didn’t.
Fancy: I heard that you all hadn’t officially had a second season confirmed, but that was a little while ago. So have you all heard any new updates or anything?
Toya: No, we have no, there’s been no word. I’m just hopeful, and I really think that there is going to be a season two. I do. I do. But then after that, you know, it’s a matter of if the creators allow my character to go on. So it’s a different thing for me. Because you know, a season two is excellent, but what does that mean for Shotgun Mary? It’s up in the air, you know? So we shall see. I’m prepping now, though, to get ready for the shotguns again.
Fancy: Well, your character stood out, so I would hope the writers wouldn’t abandon us the viewers like that. I would be really hurt. Because even at the end, I was like, ‘I know there has to be something else that’s going to take place. She can’t be dead!’ But what does that feel like when you all have wrapped up that scene.
Toya: As an actress- hey, I went from five seconds of on-screen time to being in ten episodes, so it’s all good for me. This is the furthest I’ve gotten. But as far as the character, I really would hope that she can continue, not just because of how much I love her, but how much a lot of people who identify with her, love her. I think that her representation is really, really important. Not just in that world, like that sci-fi fantasy world, but also just in entertainment period, you know. So I would hope that she gets a chance to come back because I think she has a lot more to do and also she needs to whip Father Vince’s ass. You know what I mean?
Fancy: Yes, yes!
Toya: And only she can do this like there is no reason why anyone else should be tapping that ass- like literally pummeling him! He is disrespectful and disgusting, and he needs to be beat.
If I come back even for one episode, it must be done to get back at him. So yeah, based on that, I think the fans and the viewers deserve that little bit of closure and peace.
Fancy: Okay, so I know that you also worked with the late great Ruby Dee in Lifetime’s America. What was that like? Did you get to speak with her?
Toya: Well, I had little interaction with her because my actual scenes weren’t with her, but her presence was very, very strong. She was extremely beautiful and just seeing her in passing, and stuff like that was enough for me. It’s almost like she just left a little Black woman magic dust on me. You know what I mean? (Laughs). Even from afar, her presence was just that dense, or I should say heavy and beautiful, very regal.
Fancy: I can imagine. With you playing such a unique role in Warrior Nun, what type of character would you like to play next?
Toya: I really, really, really want to be in a western. I used to visit a stable and volunteer with horses. I actually used to have a horse for a little while but had to give it away. But yeah, I know how to ride, and it’s just that world is incredible. So I would love that. I would also love to play a villain in Black Panther. Yeah, it’s really weird. I have these small roles in my head.
Fancy: I could see you doing both of those things because you now have the whole gun-toting and action stuff down. So I could see you on a horse.
Toya: Yes, let’s go! I’m really excited about that.
Fancy: So what have you been doing during the pandemic, or has your life changed any?
Toya: I have been more involved in my spiritual practice. I’ve been doing a lot of journaling, meditating, and I bought some paint. So I paint sometimes. It’s really exciting stuff happening over here. I’m just getting to know myself, I guess. Sometimes I get deep in thought for like 20 or 30 minutes, or I read a book, but I’m trying to do a lot of things that I usually would say I want to do, but I don’t have time to do. Now I actually do have time. The gyms are closed right now, so I ordered a pole to get my arms together, and I’ve been like learning a little routine on that. I’m also watching some of my favorite shows like P-Valley. Oh my God, I love that show.
Fancy: Now that you’re talking about it, I’m going to be sure to check it out because I know it’s supposed to be based in Mississippi, which is where I’m from, and I’ve heard others talking about it too.
Toya: Yeah, it’s really good. So I watch that, especially with me having a pole now. It’s like I have my own little club in the living room over here. So yeah, it’s just one of those weird times where you don’t want to fill up too much of your time with things, but then you also don’t want to do absolutely anything, but it’s all the time. So it’s about finding that balance of when do I need to be productive? When do I need to stimulate my mind, stimulate my body, and when can I stare up at the ceiling and do nothing, you know? So finding that balance has been the toughest for me.
Fancy: Yeah, that’s a mouthful right here. I feel that. So, in closing, is there anything else that you would like to leave our readers?
Toya: I hope y’all are all doing well and making sure that you are loving yourself and staying positive during this time. I also hope y’all are finding space for black joy as much as possible.
Since this interview, Warrior Nun season 2 has been confirmed.Â
Follow Toya for more updates on Instagram: @iamtoyat
Photos by Antar Hanif.
