The Handmaid’s Tale Star “Wasn’t Ready To Give Up” Divisive Character As They Return For Sequel

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Please be aware that the following contains spoilers for The Handmaid’s Tale. The Testaments will continue the story begun in The Handmaid’s Tale, and a familiar actress is set to reprise her role.

Based on Margaret Atwood’s novel, The Handmaid’s Tale premiered in 2017 and tells the story of June (Elisabeth Moss), a woman torn from her family and forced to live in the oppressive world of Gilead. Throughout the series, June fights to escape and reunite with her daughter, all while the fate of women’s rights and safety remains uncertain.

Ann Dowd, known for her six-season portrayal of the controversial and harsh Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid’s Tale, recently discussed her return for the sequel series, The Testaments, in an interview with Deadline. Dowd called playing Aunt Lydia “a complete gift,” but also admitted the character has made “wrong and awful” choices. When asked about how Aunt Lydia will change in The Testaments, Dowd explained:

Everything has changed completely. She approaches this new environment as a softer, more approachable person – the tough exterior she used to have is gone. It hasn’t vanished entirely, but her energy is now directed towards the school and teaching the girls traditional skills like how to be a good hostess, wife, and mother, and how to manage a home. Interestingly, formal education – reading, writing, and math – isn’t part of the curriculum. The rules are strict and consistently enforced, all done with a sense of religious justification.

Throughout The Handmaid’s Tale, Aunt Lydia acts as an opponent to June and the other Handmaids. As a powerful figure in the Republic of Gilead, she’s in charge of training and punishing the Handmaids, sometimes using harsh methods. She justifies this violence as a twisted form of caring, believing she’s protecting them from a greater danger.

I was completely captivated by the Handmaids in ‘The Handmaid’s Tale,’ and it struck me how lost they seemed, disconnected from any sense of faith or purpose. They were making choices – living with men outside of marriage – that went against everything Aunt Lydia believed in. It was heartbreaking to see her realize that gentle guidance wouldn’t work; she felt she had no choice but to use fear and force to get them to listen, to try and steer them back to what she considered the right path.

I believe she adopted a stern demeanor to maintain control, but she genuinely cared for them. It’s understandable that those who first saw her portrayal in The Handmaid’s Tale might not recognize that affection, but I hope viewers can perceive it. It’s hard to say for sure, though – is that a reasonable expectation?

Ann Dowd, who plays Aunt Lydia, points out that as an actress, it’s important not to judge her character’s actions. While Aunt Lydia is often seen as cruel, Dowd believes her character simply tries to reinforce her beliefs. Dowd doesn’t consider this inherently evil, and she highlights that the character undergoes significant development as Gilead evolves.

She has her reasons for acting the way she does, driven by a strong belief in what she’s doing. It’s important to understand her motivations without judgment, which keeps a natural connection between the character and me as the actor. It might sound strange, but I feel like I have a real connection with her – I understand her, and she understands me. She’s actually been surprisingly helpful in my life.

The Testaments is available to watch on Hulu and Hulu on Disney+.

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2026-04-05 19:48