Actress Almost Rejected Iconic Role in Hit Series Rated 4.4/5!

As “The Handmaid’s Tale” bids farewell to television in the United States (it will be available on OCS from June 5), Elisabeth Moss reflects on her nine-year journey in Gilead.

The two-time Golden Globe winner expressed she is “so glad” she accepted the role of June Osborne after initially rejecting it in Hulu’s adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel, which wrapped its sixth and final season on May 27.

“Thank goodness it worked out the way it did,” Moss stated during an appearance on the “Jennifer Hudson Show” (via Deadline), explaining her hesitation to dive into another series right after her 8-season run on Mad Men (2007-2015).

She added: “I wasn’t sure I was ready to commit again, so I turned it down the first time they offered it to me. I know, it sounds crazy now. I’m so glad I corrected that. Then they came back and kindly offered it again, blah blah blah. What tipped the scales was when they—obviously on purpose—let slip who they would offer it to if I said no, and I thought: ‘Not on my watch.’”

“That’s what made me realize I had to do it. I couldn’t stand the idea of someone else playing this role, you know what I mean? That’s what made me realize how much I wanted to do it.”

Set in the dystopian society of Gilead, “The Handmaid’s Tale” follows June, also known as Defred (or Offred in the original version), who is forced to reproduce with a high-ranking commander while secretly plotting to overthrow the totalitarian government and reunite with her daughter who was taken from her.

In April, the show’s creator, Bruce Miller, was in the casting phase for the upcoming sequel, “The Testaments,” based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 book.

A Faithful Yet Frustrating Conclusion for Fans

Warning, spoilers ahead! The rest of this article reveals the ending of “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Do not read if you haven’t seen the final episode of the series yet.

After six intense seasons, “The Handmaid’s Tale” ended as it began and bowed out with a final episode that was understated, poignant, and full of symbolism, echoing the very beginnings of the story. While setting the stage for “The Testaments,” this finale remains true to Margaret Atwood’s universe.

Remember, in the final scene of the very first episode in 2017, Defred sits in the quarters provided by her captors, observing her surroundings in an internal monologue: “A chair. A table. A lamp. And a window with white curtains.” Elisabeth Moss’s voiceover shockingly concludes: “My name is June.” It’s a name she is no longer allowed to use in Gilead, but she still uses internally to preserve a crucial part of herself.

In the last episode, June, now free to use her first name, returns to the house of her nightmares, now in ruins, and begins writing her memoirs. The recording she makes in the final moments of the series begins: “A chair. A table. A lamp… My name is Defred.” The circle is complete.

A Good Reason for This Ending

Speaking to Variety, Elisabeth Moss, who directed the last episode, initially explained that what is heard in this final scene is actually a blend: a newly interpreted version of the monologue overlaps with the version recorded nearly ten years ago.

This scene also features an imaginary glimpse of Hannah, June’s daughter, which disappointed many viewers. The mother and daughter were separated before the series began, and indeed the series ends without the long-awaited reunion. June’s quest to save Hannah has been the driving force of the series, but the 2019 publication of Margaret Atwood’s novel “The Testaments,” a sequel to the original series material where Hannah appears, put an end to that possibility.

“Our challenge was to stay true to Margaret’s decision while honoring Hannah’s presence. No one is more aware than me of the audience’s desire to see June recover Hannah. It’s the number one question I get asked. It’s the first thing people want. I don’t want it to be a burden, but I’ve carried this question for years. And I want to say to everyone who tells me, ‘Please, tell me she gets her daughter back,’ I understand how you feel, but that’s not the case in Margaret’s sequel.”

Finally, she concluded: “So, the logical next step, knowing our audience would be disappointed, even surprised, was to incorporate Hannah. We made sure to do this throughout the season, right up to the final scene where we put her in the room.” But only in a figurative sense.

“The Handmaid’s Tale” ends on a surprisingly ambivalent note: Gilead has not been overthrown but has been severely weakened, and June vows to continue fighting and speaking out.

The sixth and final season of The Handmaid’s Tale will debut on OCS on June 5. In the meantime, the other five seasons of the show are available on Prime Video.