health
The sapphic subtext of ‘Sister Act’: One nun was "attracted" to Whoopi Goldberg's character
By John Russell at LGBTQ Nation
· June 19, 2026
· 2 min read
If you caught a frisson of sapphic chemistry in Sister Act, there’s a good reason, according to Wendy Makkena. This week, the You Might Know Her From podcast reposted an archive clip from their 2021 interview with Makkena, in which she explained that she imagined her character in the 1992 film was a
Key takeaway This week, the You Might Know Her From podcast reposted an archive clip from their 2021 interview with Makkena, in which she explained that she imagined her character in the 1992 film was attracted to Whoopi Goldberg’s.
Why this matters
The revelation that Wendy Makkena imagined her character in Sister Act as being attracted to Whoopi Goldberg's character highlights the subtle yet significant ways in which LGBTQ+ themes can be woven into mainstream culture. Makkena's internal character work, kept secret at the time, demonstrates how actors can bring nuanced and personal interpretations to their roles, even if not explicitly stated in the script. The fact that queer audiences picked up on the homoerotic vibes between the characters suggests that LGBTQ+ individuals are often adept at reading between the lines and finding representation in media, even when it is not overtly stated. This phenomenon speaks to the importance of representation and the need for more explicit and diverse LGBTQ+ storytelling in film and television. The National LGBTQ Task Force and other organizations continue to advocate for increased representation and inclusivity in media, recognizing the powerful impact it can have on LGBTQ+ individuals and communities.
About this story
Original reporting by LGBTQ Nation . LGBTQ News surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit LGBTQ Nation . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: health ·
Published: June 19, 2026 ·
Source: LGBTQ Nation ·
Reading time: 2 min
Get more LGBTQ News stories like this
Free weekly briefing covering health and other local news. Curated by our editorial team. No spam.
By subscribing you agree to our privacy policy . Unsubscribe anytime.
Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? If you caught a frisson of sapphic chemistry in Sister Act, there’s a good reason, according to Wendy Makkena. This week, the You Might Know Her From podcast reposted an archive clip from their 2021 interview with Makkena, in which she explained that she imagined her character in the 1992 film was a
When was this published? This article was first published on June 19, 2026 by LGBTQ Nation and curated for LGBTQ News readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by John Russell at LGBTQ Nation. To learn more about how LGBTQ News selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more health coverage from LGBTQ News, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .