‘The Chosen’ Star, 39, Reveals Why She Thinks Audiences Are Drawn to Her Character [Exclusive]

Elizabeth Tabish has been with The Chosen since the very beginning. Her character, Mary Magdalene, appeared in the first episode of the premiere season all the way back in 2019. The installment, titled “I Have Called You by Name,” saw the debut of most of the main players that audiences have followed over the show’s five-season run. In the case of Tabish’s character, she is introduced as a woman named Lilith struggling with demonic possession until Jonathan Roumie’s Jesus reaches out, calls her by her true name, and casts the entity from her body. Over her arc, audiences have fallen in love with Mary Magdalene and find themselves drawn to her while she walks her faith journey.

We recently had the chance to exchange questions with Tabish and were eager to find out why she thought she’d grown into a fan favorite. The actress expressed that, when it comes down to it, the allure of Mary Magdalene is all about her humanity, explaining:

“The extremity of her redemption is pretty captivating— to go from a demon-possessed addict suffering from PTSD to a devoted, compassionate, and empowered spiritual icon is such a bold and fascinating study on transformation. We want to know how this can happen, and the show offers a suggestion as to what that process of growth looks like in real time. In Season 5, we see Mary emboldened in her confrontations with religious leaders, fearless when confronted with ancient triggers, and constantly seeking to understand and live the mysteries of Jesus’s teachings.”

Jesus’ Right-Hand Woman

Though the twelve disciples might be who Christians first think of when they think of Jesus’ closest companions, The Chosen makes a case for Mary Magdalene’s presence and closeness in the religious leader’s life. In watching Tabish’s portrayal of the Biblical character, viewers can see the emotional depth through which she’s able to connect with Jesus — oftentimes on a more meaningful and understanding level than the men who surround them.

Walking us through that unique connection, Tabish said that she believes that Mary Magdalene’s closeness and perceptiveness for Jesus comes from “her experience with darkness, pain, grief, and despair,” adding, “I think her capacity for understanding is wider and deeper, a more complex container in which to hold the light, the peace, the love.” She also has a more nuanced view of religious practices that allow her to fully open her heart to her Messiah, continuing:

“Although respectful of tradition, she also seems to be less concerned about clutching to the old ways of doing things, and more interested in the visceral experience of real love—that same love Jesus teaches and that same love that transformed her. And then the way in which he teaches — through parables, in metaphor, imagery, poetry — well, it’s no real surprise that a woman might deeply understand it.”

Seasons 1-5 of The Chosen are now streaming on Prime Video.