Bonnie Aarons, who was born and raised in California, had only one dream from her childhood -to become a film actress. But Bonnie was very different from the unwritten rules of how a film actress was expected to look. Her long face and prominent curved nose made more of an unusual impression than one of conventional beauty.
Because of this, everyone told her the same thing whenever she expressed her desire to become an actress: “That’s not something you can do. Give up that dream and look for another path.”
Even after hearing such discouraging words, Bonnie was not ready to give up her dream. She joined film school to learn acting and continued to visit film studios in search of opportunities. Eventually after persistent efforts, she got small roles in movies – often as a background artist in a crowd. Bonnie made peace with the idea that she might only ever be a junior artist.
It was during this time that director James Wan was preparing for a sequel to the movie The Conjuring after its great success. Though he had found suitable actors for many roles, he was deeply disappointed at not finding the right actress for one particular character he had envisioned.
One day while watching a movie his eyes fell on Bonnie, standing in the background. In that moment he decided – this is the face of my character. And the rest is history.
In The Conjuring 2, Bonnie played the role of the nun and captivated audiences with just that one film. Soon after The Nun was released and with it Bonnie rose to become one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood.
For those who feel insecure about their body shape or uniqueness, for those who give up due to negative experiences and for those who abandon their dreams halfway – Bonnie Aarons is a lesson. A lesson in holding on till the end and believing in oneself.
So, keep trying. Believe in your abilities. Don’t let others’ discouraging words break your spirit. Success will find its way to you. Success is something we all deserve. But don’t forget one thing – there is a time for everything.
Regards
Prof Antoney P Joseph
