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(In total,eightHandmaids Taleactorswere nominated this year.)
The second season of the Emmy-winning Hulu drama proved that life in Gilead isnt just harrowing for the Handmaids.
She doesnt trust her husband.
She doesnt trust her household.
She has another woman living in her household being intimate with her husband.
I felt sorry for her in reading the first bit of material about her.
It was a brutal season to watch, and Serenas journey was brutal in many ways, too.
Her husband beats her, her finger is severed, and she willingly gives up her baby.
What was the hardest scene for you this season?I think that theres a couple things.
I found the Canada episode challenging, just in terms of making the decision to go back to Gilead.
Things had gotten really bad for Serena in the buildup to the Canada episode.
It was post-beating, and that was so devastating to be beaten your husband.
But thats not how it was written.
Those kinds of scenes really are trickier to navigate.
It was so harrowing to read.
It was immediately emotional for me.
It was just so emotional.
It was a cold night in Canada when we shot it.
It was really late, like, three in the morning or something.
Ive just always been very moved by that scene.
In the finale, Serena faces the leadership and dares to read aloud from the Bible.
Everyone starts freaking out.
Did that surprise you?Its such a great scene.
Its a powerful moment.
Weve seen, so many times, the flock of red cloaks gathered together in some kind of unison.
Weve never seen a flock of blue gather in that way.
I dont know that she thinks shes going to move the needle at all.
And she knows it.
Its a little beautiful moment for herself, to know that she did that.
Thats harrowing for him, that its the baby sans the mom.
What an incredible, powerful choice.
Shes obviously got some stuff up her sleeve that she wants to do before she leaves Gilead.
How do you decompress from playing Serena?
Theres so much bottled up in her.I spend a lot of time out in nature.
I was lucky enough this season to have my husband and my doggies with me the whole time.
So they keep me sane.
This post has been corrected to show thatThe Handmaids Taleactors received eight Emmy nominations this year.
