What Playing Jesus’ Mom Taught This CHOSEN Actress

Published: July 31, 2025

By Kayla DeKraker

Actress Vanessa Benavente plays Mary, Jesus’ mother, in THE CHOSEN, and the role has impacted her deeply.

“I play Mary Mother,” Benavente said in a video posted to THE CHOSEN’s YouTube. “I love saying that she was the O.G. disciple. She was first one to say ‘yes.’”

The actress just had a new baby at the time of her audition, making the role much more personal.

“The episode that I was auditioning for, it was very straightforward for me. It was a mother looking for her son. I had just become mother, and my daughter was 10 months old at the time, so everything was very raw. It still gives me goosebumps just thinking about it,” she explained.

Throughout THE CHOSEN, as well as in the Bible, people see Mary in vulnerable situations.

“I think repeatedly, we see her in these moments of her life when she’s extremely vulnerable — when she’s giving birth, when she’s losing her son, you know. Like it’s these are very extreme moments,” Benavente said. “It really changed my perspective on not only on how I was playing her but what this woman was in reality. She has to have been a fighter.”

The show also depicts the deep relationship Mary and Jesus shared and their care for one another.

“I feel like she plays an important role for Him as almost like a sounding board. Jesus has been trying to explain to His disciples He won’t be here forever and that there are very sad moments ahead, and not everyone is quite getting it, and so He’s frustrated with that,” Benavente explained.

She continued, “There’s a very nice moment there where He just wants to talk to her, just unload, and talk to her about how He’s not getting through to them.”

Season 5 is emotionally difficult as it portrays Christ’s preparing His mother and His followers for His death.

“Season Five is about saying goodbye. He says to her that He basically can’t shield her from what’s coming,” Benavente said.

The actress sees how viewers today could relate to Mary’s story.

“What I relate it to is getting the news that your child has cancer, and you’re going to start a journey that is going to be extremely painful,” she said. “I can’t imagine not being there for my child at any moment, for however hard the journey might become.”

“I think at the end of the day, her ministry is her motherhood,” Benavente added. “That’s how she praises God — through her motherhood. I’m going to see this through the end.”

THE CHOSEN is currently filming Season 6, which will portray Christ’s crucifixion.

“This season is being particularly challenging but I couldn’t be more in love with this profession,” Benavente said after wrapping filming in Utah. “Spending my days telling meaningful stories with a group of people that inspire me and make me laugh. Yes, more please!!”