The Handmaid’s Tale has earned itself public and critical acclaim. We’re taking a look at the beautiful actresses and actors behind the harrowing characters…
Ofglen/Ofsteven/Emily
Gilmore Girls fans might find it hard to see the lovely Alexis Bledel in this new and startling light. After a shocking twist in season one, Emily’s story continues.
Season two’s powerful second episode, “Unwomen,” finds Bledel’s character in the Colonies, a radioactive wasteland where tormented women literally go to die.
Alexis Bledel
Alexis Bledel is known for playing the innocent Rory Gilmore in the beloved comedic series, Gilmore Girls. After some down time out of the spotlight, she has made an incredible comeback playing Ofglen, who befriends Offred.
The raven-haired, blue-eyed actress is an undeniable beauty.
Nick Blaine
Nick Blaine is the Waterfords’ driver and security man, serving under Commander Waterford. But he’s also an Eye, part of Gilead’s secret police force which aims to eradicate traitors.
Nick turns out to be a real friend, as well as a love interest, for June. The infatuated young man often risks his own life in order to save hers.
Max Minghella
Max is one of many British actors on the show’s set, but he’s also a screenwriter and filmmaker, and will be making his directorial debut with the 2019 film, Teen Spirit.
Other than his role on The Handmaid’s Tale, the actor has starred in movies including The Internships, drama The Social Network, thriller Syriana, and political drama The Ides of March.
Fred Waterford
Commander Fred Waterford is the head of the household where June serves as a handmaid, and also a key figure in the Gilead command. In revealing flashbacks, we see him and his wife Serena fighting to achieve their religious doctrine.
The character is responsible for the often vicious treatment of June.
Joseph Fiennes
Joseph is a British actor, and brother to fellow actor Ralph Fiennes. He became a leading man with his acclaimed performance in Shakespeare in Love, alongside Gwyneth Paltrow.
He proceeded to appear in films like war drama Enemy at the Gates, Shakespeare-based The Merchant of Venice, the dramedy Running with Scissors, and the 2014 version of Hercules.
Aunt Lydia
As an Aunt, Lydia’s job is to teach fertile women about their new place in the world as Handmaids. She teaches them how to behave accordingly, often applying cruel and even sadistic punishments to those who do not meet her severe standards.
Despite her harsh character, she often shows compassion for the women she tends to.
Ann Dowd
Ann Dowd won an Emmy Award as well as a Golden Globe for her outstanding performance on the series. The actress has had parts in movies such as Philadelphia, The Manchurian Candidate, the family dramedy Marley & Me, and the sci-fi thriller Hereditary.
Ann works as an acting coach along and was in fact Lady Gaga’s acting coach!
Luke Bankole
Luke Bankole is June’s husband in the old world, who managed to escape to Canada, after being separated from his family. In flashbacks, we see that Luke was once married to another woman, and had an affair with June before leaving his wife for her.
While he knows his beloved June is alive, he knows that she is in grave danger.
O-T Fagbenle
British actor, writer, and director O. T. Fagbenle has many TV titles to his name. He had roles on shows like the British comedies As If, Grownups, and HBO’s drama series The Interceptor, and the Harlan Coben mystery show The Five.
The role of June’s husband Luke Bankole was a breakthrough role for the talented actor, who has recently been named one of 30 actors to watch.
Moira
Before Gilead, Moira is June’s closest companion and partner in crime. She’s separated from her wife when the regime of Gilead begins, and ends up as a Handmaid. She is soon sent to work at a night club called Jezebel’s, where she’s forced to serve the commanders.
Incredibly, the character manages to escape to Canada, where she sadly discovers her wife never made it.
Samira Wiley
You may know Samira Wiley from her outstanding performance in the prison drama Orange Is the New Black, playing Poussey Washington. The actress is currently married to one of the show’s screenwriters, Lauren Morelli.
Samira also had parts on shows like comedy You’re the Worst and the crime comedy Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television, but her roles on OITNB and The Handmaid’s Tale have garnered her worldwide recognition.
Serena Joy Waterford
Serena is the author of A Woman’s Place, the doctrine used to form Gilead. She insists hers is the only way to fight the world’s increasing infertility, but her efforts are soon turned against her.
Ultimately, her only goal is having a child, and she would do anything for it. Although she does show June the rare kindness, she’s usually cold-hearted towards the Handmaid.
Yvonne Strahovski
The gorgeous actress is actually Australian despite her convincing accent. She began her way in the Australian drama Headland. She rose to fame when she played CIA agent Sarah Walker on the action comedy series Chuck, and later landed a recurring role on Dexter as the protagonist’s deadly love interest.
Married to fellow actor Tim Loden, the actress is currently expecting her first child.
Alma
Alma is a Handmaid who trained at the Red Center along with June, Janine, and Moira, who now serves Commander Ellis and his wife.
She is involved with the resistance movement known as Mayday, which secretly acts to ensure the future freedom of the Handmaids of Gilead.
Nina Kiri
Nina Kiri began her acting career in 2011, with a role in a TV movie called Geek Charming. She later moved on to starring in several horror thriller films, such as Let Her Out, The Haunted House on Kirby Road, and The Heretics, which she is mostly known for.
In 2017, she landed the role of Alma on The Handmaid’s Tale – which has been a career-defining breakthrough role for the young starlet.
Brianna
Brianna is another Handmaid, who is named Oferic after her Commander. In one of her first encounters with June, she tries to give her advice for her new posting at the Waterfords.
Later on, she is one of the Handmaids to reveal her real name at the supermarket, after June and Emily tell their names to some of the Handmaids.
Bahia Watson
Bahia Watson only made her acting debut, in 2014, Before landing her role on the series that, she starred in the film What We Have, and had guest roles on the family drama Remedy, as well as the supernatural medical drama Saving Hope.
The actress is also a talented poet and playwright.
Dolores
Dolores is known as Ofsamuel. She trained at the Rachel and Leah Center along with June, Moira, and Janine.
In a horrifying flashback, we see she was denied permission to go to the bathroom, and after having an accident, she is brutally punished.
Jenessa Grant
Canadian actress Jenessa Grant began acting in 2010. In film, she’s been on movies like the drama On the Road, sports drama A Fighting Man, and thriller The Intruders.
Jenessa appeared on TV series such as the fantasy drama Reign, and the action shows Ransom and Orphan Black.
Naomi Putnam
Naomi is the wife of Commander Warren, under which Janine serves. Janine delivers them a baby, and while she named her Charlotte, Naomi names the baby Angela. After Janine’s breakdown, she isn’t allowed to see her baby anymore, until one day the infant becomes ill.
June, with a surprising helping hand from Serena, manages to get Naomi’s permission for Janine to see Charlotte – and after spending the night holding her and singing to her, the baby’s dire condition becomes much improved.
Ever Carradin
Ever Carradine actually comes from a long line of performers. Her father, Robert, is an actor, and so is her late grandfather, John Carradine.
Ever had roles on shows such as Party of Five and Once and Again, the comedy Veronica’s Closet, dramas like Commander in Chief and 24, and the Showtime dramedy Shameless.
Lillie
Lillie is the second Ofglen, after Emily gets reassigned. She once struggled with substance abuse but is now recovered. But when the Handmaids are asked to stone Janine for endangering her child, she is one of the first to break rank and refuse to take part in the heinous act.
It’s later revealed that she had her tongue removed for this act, and at the opening of the new Rachel and Leah Center, she decides to act resulting in her own tragic death.
Tattiawna Jones
Tattiawna Jones started out with several guest roles on TV shows like the action series Rookie Blue and the family drama Heartland. She later moved on to starring roles as a series regular in the crime dramas Flashpoint and 19-2, as well as the western Strange Empire and the mystery series Eyewitness.
In 2017, she was cast as Ofglen #2 (Lillie Fuller) on The Handmaid’s Tale, and following her departure from the series she appeared on the Freeform drama series, The Bold Type.
Mrs. O’Conner
Mrs. O’Conner used to be a high ranking wife, but she was banned and sent to the colonies after being unfaithful to her husband.
Emily, who’s at the colonies at the time, offers her her kindness when she becomes a handmaid but would ultimately betray her.
Marisa Tomei
Maria Tomei is a long known famous Hollywood face. She rose to fame in 1992 with a role in the comedy My Cousin Vinny, for which she won an Academy Award.
Since then, she’s been in films like the comedies What Women Want and Anger Management, The Big Short, and drama The Wrestler.
Janine
Janine is another Handmaid who used to be a waitress in her previous life. She’s initially resistant to the regime but is brutally punished, losing one of her eyes.
Janine suffers a mental breakdown, and tries to jump off a bridge along with her newborn daughter but she eventually stabilizes.
Madeline Brewer
Madeline Brewer is one of the most promising actresses on TV. Aside from her winning performance as Janine on The Handmaid’s Tale, the actress appeared in several other major shows.
She played Tricia Miller on Netflix’s hit show Orange Is the New Black, as well as Miranda on thriller show Hemlock Grove, and even appeared in an episode of the highly popular anthology Black Mirror.
Rita
Rita is the Martha who serves Commander Waterford and his wife Serena. She’s one of two Marthas of the house, she overlooks the cookiing in the household.
While she does her best to steer clear of any trouble, she does care about June and tries to help her. She also promises her to take care of her soon-to-be-born child.
Amanda Brugel
The Canadian actress played parts on TV shows like the drama Paradise Falls, action shows Covert Affairs and Orphan Black, and the Canadian comedy Seed, before she was cast on The Handmaid’s Tale.
Amanda is also an activist, as she started a non-profit organization called Brugs Army in 2013, which is dedicated to helping the lives of women and children in need.
Eden Spencer
Eden is a young wife who’s matched together with Nick. The two marry in a ceremony where many other couples are wed. She tries to be a good wife and abide by the community’s demands, and believes her goal is to bear a son.
But Nick, who’s in love with June, is not truly interested in his wife’s attempts at romance. When she falls in love with another Guardian, the two are drowned.
Sydney Sweeney
20-year-old Sydney Sweeney isn’t only an actress, but also studies entrepreneurship, in hopes of having her own business someday.
Other than her recurring role on The Handmaid’s Tale, she’s mostly known for her roles as Haley on drama In The Vault and Emaline on the Netflix show Everything Sucks!
Offred/June
Offred is the strong female protagonist, who has stunned viewers from episode one. Finding the real meaning of freedom is a large part of June’s story according to Elizabeth Moss. “Maybe you have to find it in unexpected ways.
What is the resistance? Perhaps it’s not what you thought it would be. Sometimes, rather than run away from something, you have to change it from the inside.
Elisabeth Moss
Before her role as Offred, Elizabeth Moss notably starred in Mad Men. The role of Offred earned Moss several awards, including the Golden Globe for Best Actress – Television Series Drama and the Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series.
The talented actress was also a producer on season one of The Handmaid’s Tale and continues to wow audiences with her riveting performances.