Rhonda Volmer
Encyclopedia
Rhonda Volmer is a fictional character in the HBO series Big Love
, and is portrayed by Daveigh Chase
. She is the 16-year-old former bride-to-be of the now late Roman Grant
.
and Nicolette Grant fled the Juniper Creek Compound, she stowed away in their truck
. She has since stayed with the Henricksons, at a shelter, and with another family. At the beginning of season 3, Rhonda is living with a group of teenagers from the compound, including Bill's half-brother Frankie, but is later bribed by Adeleen to leave before she testifies. She is last seen hitchhiking with truckers to Los Angeles.
of those around her. She has a humble, trustworthy demeanor, but she is actually very calculating and manipulative
. Rhonda has dreams of moving to New York
and becoming a celebrity
. She is selfish and demanding. She desperately wants people to like her but is unable to interact in a way that would actually encourage affection or friendship from anyone.
She also is partly responsible for the "outing" of Bill's family as polygamists at the end of Season One. Rhonda is seen manipulating the family with lies, and learning about the situation with Barb entering the competition for Mother of the Year. Prior to the "outing" of the family with their practice of polygamy during the Mother of the Year Event, Rhonda is seen giving Roman Grant a paper with a number, in which he uses to call and inform an unknown person of Bill and his family's practice of polygamy. This insinuates that Roman was the informer. After Roman makes his call, Rhonda smiles with self-satisfaction.
In season 3 Rhonda appears as a witness for the prosecution in the criminal trial against Roman Grant for selling underage brides. Using her usual troubled but manipulative methods, she thinks she can lie on the stand to get the criminal conviction, then use that to secure a large civil verdict. Bill tries to convince her she won't succeed. Adaleen finds her and offers her $30,000 to not testify. She takes the money and leaves for Los Angeles.
Episode 4 of season 5 introduces Rhonda as the wife of Cara Lyn's cousin, Verlan, and as mother to Verlan's child Jessica. Rhonda's relationship with Heather is slightly less antagonistic than it has been in seasons past until Ben chooses Heather over Rhonda, which leads Rhonda to tell Heather, "He's all yours, lesbo."
Big Love
Big Love is an American television drama that aired on HBO between March 2006 and March 2011. The show is about a fictional fundamentalist Mormon family in Utah that practices polygamy...
, and is portrayed by Daveigh Chase
Daveigh Chase
Daveigh Elizabeth Chase is an American actress, singer, and voice over artist best known for playing Rhonda Volmer in the HBO series Big Love, Samara Morgan in The Ring and Lilo Pelekai in Lilo & Stitch.-Early life:Chase was born Daveigh Elizabeth Chase-Schwallier in Las Vegas, Nevada, but her...
. She is the 16-year-old former bride-to-be of the now late Roman Grant
Roman Grant
Roman Grant is a fictional character in the HBO series, Big Love, and is portrayed by Harry Dean Stanton. He was the prophet of the Juniper Creek Compound, and is the father of Nicolette Grant and Alby Grant. The character is loosely based on the real life polygamist leader Rulon...
.
Escape from the Compound
When Bill HenricksonBill Henrickson
William Orville "Bill" Henrickson is the fictional protagonist husband in a polygamous family in the HBO series Big Love, portrayed by Bill Paxton. He is married to three wives, Barbara Henrickson, Nicolette Grant and Margene Heffman...
and Nicolette Grant fled the Juniper Creek Compound, she stowed away in their truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
. She has since stayed with the Henricksons, at a shelter, and with another family. At the beginning of season 3, Rhonda is living with a group of teenagers from the compound, including Bill's half-brother Frankie, but is later bribed by Adeleen to leave before she testifies. She is last seen hitchhiking with truckers to Los Angeles.
Personality
Rhonda has a complicated personality. Although extremely intelligent, she is a pathological liar, known to lie in response to even the simplest questions. She lived a very sheltered life. She frequently makes baseless accusations, especially if she believes it will garner the sympathiesSympathy
Sympathy is a social affinity in which one person stands with another person, closely understanding his or her feelings. Also known as empathic concern, it is the feeling of compassion or concern for another, the wish to see them better off or happier. Although empathy and sympathy are often used...
of those around her. She has a humble, trustworthy demeanor, but she is actually very calculating and manipulative
Psychological manipulation
Psychological manipulation is a type of social influence that aims to change the perception or behavior of others through underhanded, deceptive, or even abusive tactics. By advancing the interests of the manipulator, often at the other's expense, such methods could be considered exploitative,...
. Rhonda has dreams of moving to New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and becoming a celebrity
Celebrity
A celebrity, also referred to as a celeb in popular culture, is a person who has a prominent profile and commands a great degree of public fascination and influence in day-to-day media...
. She is selfish and demanding. She desperately wants people to like her but is unable to interact in a way that would actually encourage affection or friendship from anyone.
She also is partly responsible for the "outing" of Bill's family as polygamists at the end of Season One. Rhonda is seen manipulating the family with lies, and learning about the situation with Barb entering the competition for Mother of the Year. Prior to the "outing" of the family with their practice of polygamy during the Mother of the Year Event, Rhonda is seen giving Roman Grant a paper with a number, in which he uses to call and inform an unknown person of Bill and his family's practice of polygamy. This insinuates that Roman was the informer. After Roman makes his call, Rhonda smiles with self-satisfaction.
In season 3 Rhonda appears as a witness for the prosecution in the criminal trial against Roman Grant for selling underage brides. Using her usual troubled but manipulative methods, she thinks she can lie on the stand to get the criminal conviction, then use that to secure a large civil verdict. Bill tries to convince her she won't succeed. Adaleen finds her and offers her $30,000 to not testify. She takes the money and leaves for Los Angeles.
Episode 4 of season 5 introduces Rhonda as the wife of Cara Lyn's cousin, Verlan, and as mother to Verlan's child Jessica. Rhonda's relationship with Heather is slightly less antagonistic than it has been in seasons past until Ben chooses Heather over Rhonda, which leads Rhonda to tell Heather, "He's all yours, lesbo."