Lorraine Warren Helped Vera Farmiga Fight Her Fear of ‘The Conjuring’ Series
Vera Farmiga is a mainstay in the horror genre, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t without fear. While portraying the real-life paranormal investigator Lorraine Warren in The Conjuring series, Farmiga said the films sometimes frightened her. Farmiga explained the way that Warren helped her “push away” fear when the horror movies’ content started wearing on her.
Vera Farmiga is a mainstay in ‘The Conjuring’ movies
Outside of The Conjuring series, Farmiga has made it clear that she enjoys the genre. In 2009, she starred as a troubled adoptive mother in Orphan. Later, she starred as Norma Bates in the thriller prequel series to Psycho, Bates Motel. In 2021, she announced she would produce and star in the horror fairytale Bad Blood.
Her most notable horror role is that of Warren in The Conjuring films, however. The series details the real-life paranormal investigations of Warren and her husband, Ed. Farmiga has appeared in the three main movies and two spin-offs.
She’s so dedicated to her roles in the horror series that she’s taken some of her work home with her. According to Farmiga, she’s noticed some unsettling occurrences after appearing in the films.
“Every time I pull out a sheet of toilet paper, these five little claw marks fall to the floor,” she told MTV UK. “I am serious! Do you want me to bring the computer to show you?”
Vera Farmiga met with the woman her character is based on
Before appearing in the series as Lorraine, Farmiga met the real-life inspiration. Warren, who was 86 when the first film was released, offered Farmiga her advice for dealing with dark topics. Admittedly, the series’ dark subject matter grates on Farmiga.
“I’d be lying if I said it didn’t affect me, the first two films. But I think I’ve toughened up,” she told People.
According to Farmiga, the toughening happened because of Warren.
“One of the first things Lorraine said to me is that, from her perspective and her knowledge of the diabolical, all of that negative stuff feeds on fear. That is probably something I’ve learned to push away year after year,” Farmiga explained. “And that’s really, honestly, the trick — how does one do that? I don’t necessarily have a recipe for that, other than knowing the knowledge of that.”
It’s not clear, however, if Warren helped Farmiga with her at-home hauntings.
The actor posted a tribute to the inspiration of ‘The Conjuring’
Warren died in 2019, just before Farmiga’s fourth appearance in the series. Farmiga posted a tribute to Warren on her Instagram.
“My dear friend Lorraine Warren has passed,” Farmiga wrote. “From my deep feeling of sorrow, a deep feeling of gratitude emerges. I was so blessed to have known her and am honored to portray her.”
She concluded her tribute with a nod to Warren’s husband, who died in 2006.
“Righteousness was her breastplate, and she has touched my life so. Love you Lorraine,” she wrote. “You’re waltzing with Ed now.”
