The Handmaid’s Tale Aunt Lydia actress teases redemption for character – revealing she has the power to ‘bring Gilead down’
THE Handmaid’s Tale's Ann Dowd has teased redemption for her character Aunt Lydia – revealing she has the power to "ring Gilead down".
The 63-year-old plays the formidable character in the hit Hulu series starring Elisabeth Moss, which is based on the 1985 book by Margaret Atwood.
Ann also provides the voice for Aunt Lydia for the audio book version of author Margaret's sequel, The Testaments, which reveals what is happening in Gilead 15 years on from the original text.
Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Ann revealed how the second book will dictate what happens in series four of The Handmaid's Tale, and what role Aunt Lydia will play in it all.
She said: "I was thrilled — let’s get real on that — by what Aunt Lydia does and how she does it, her understanding of Gilead to its core and what will bring it down."
The finale of season three saw June - played by Elisabeth - help dozens of children escape from Gilead, a totalitarian regime in a re-imagined America.
Ann continued: "We’re left, at the end of season three, with many of the young girls gone from Gilead.
“Our finest, most pure resource has been taken, and Lydia should have caught it, in her opinion.
“So when something of this level occurs she’s going to do a lot of thinking and a lot of self-reflection.
“I think her perspective shifts and begins to shift in a subtle but significant way about what the future could hold here and how she is going to participate.”
Most Read in TV & Showbiz
Earlier this month, series editor Wendy Hallam-Martin revealed The Testaments will have a huge influence on the fourth series.
She said: "I don’t think they’ll start production until March.
“They’re already writing so it’s gonna take a while to act out the next season, and then we have Margaret Atwood’s new book coming along the Testaments.
"That will dictate a lot of what happens in the next season and we’ll see where we go with the Testaments!”
Got a story? email [email protected] or call us direct on 02077824220.
We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.