The Chosen's Mother Mary Opens Up: Crucifixion Scenes Left Her Feeling PTSD-Like Effects

The Chosen is heading into its most emotionally intense season yet, and one of its stars is pulling back the curtain on what it took to film it. Vanessa Benavente, who plays Mother Mary, appeared on the“off the record”podcast with Bella Michaels and described the emotional toll of Season 6’s crucifixion scenes as PTSD-like. She said actors were crying inconsolably after“Cut,”and she found herself jumping up and down, repeating,“I’m safe, Jonathan is safe, everybody’s safe, we’re just playing make-believe.”

The details are striking. Benavente said she had to keep telling herself“this is not real”just to separate the story from reality. It’s a reminder that for this cast, the crucifixion isn’t just a plot point. It’s the emotional center of a story millions of viewers hold sacred, and living inside it take after take clearly left a mark.

Season 6 premieres on Prime Video on November 15, and the finale will get an exclusive theatrical release in spring 2027. So before the fandom collectively goes through it in November, remember what the cast went through to bring it to the screen. What’s the most emotionally affected you’ve ever been by a movie or TV scene? Tell us in the comments.