It's a series that hurts. "The Handmaid's Tale: The Scarlet Handmaid" had the effect of an electric shock in its first season in 2017. By staging the republic of Gilead, a totalitarian and ultra-religious American regime, this adaptation of the published novel by Margaret Atwood in 1985 resonated with Trump's America in the making. Beautifully written, directed and performed, "The Handmaid's Tale" has become one of the best series of the decade. However, as the fourth season begins, we do not see the end of the tunnel: the heroine is seriously injured and on the run. The four parts that we were able to see (three are already available on OCS) certainly offer changes of framework, but once again deliver scenes of intense pain. Actress Elisabeth Moss, 38,confides on the stakes of this season 4.
If you had to put a label on this new season of "The Handmaid's Tale", which one would it be?
ELISABETH MOSS.
The main theme of this new season revolves around the notion of power and what it means, and who really owns it.
In fact, this is the very main subject of the book, so we go back to basics.
Power, as we all know, can be dangerous and destructive.
For Lydia
(Editor's note: one of the “bad guys” in the series)
as for June
(Editor's note: the heroine)
, who seek this power, but in a diametrically different way and they also have different objectives.
But what is certain is that the first part of the season is grandiose, out of the ordinary and out of everything we've done so far!
Your character has evolved over the seasons.
Do you feel that you have also changed during these years?
Yes, absolutely, and the biggest change is that I became a producer and not just an actress in the series anymore.
It was agreed that I would do it from the start and it is therefore for this fourth season that I made my debut (on television) by directing three of the ten episodes!
It has given me a lot professionally and humanely.
But I didn't want to just be a producer in the credits, I wanted to get involved, and the producer and creator encouraged me, and that helped me a lot.
I suddenly created my own production house.
How was the shooting of this season during the Covid?
In fact, we have created, I would say like a bubble, with very rigorous and very regular testing.
So all the actors and technicians present were able to continue their work, despite being in their forties.
It did not affect my acting, even if on the set we were reduced to the strict minimum of participants.
Do you have the feeling that the series sticks more than ever to recent world events?
I always refer to the book by Margaret Atwood which came out in 1985 and which, at the time, was particularly relevant to current affairs. She has always insisted that everything in her book is inspired by reality. What is incredible is that the events she describes are still so current. However, we are not a series like "New York, Special Unit" where we are regularly inspired by news items and headlines in the media. On the contrary, we follow our characters who are mothers, fathers, children, brothers, sisters, who are sometimes friends but also enemies. And it resonates in people's hearts, for it is a pattern of inevitable existence. On top of that are political events, which are quite gigantic, and on which I will not elaborate.But what speaks to me the most is the human side that emerges in all the episodes. We all face the same issues that are intimately linked to human nature, and it is on this truth that I base myself to play my character.
Will the political climate in the United States shine through in this new season?
Without revealing everything, I can say that after the rage and anger, we wish once and for all to sweep and evacuate, to leave a message of hope by telling ourselves that everything is finally going and finally going well, and to try to forget everything that happened… But June is not like that, she is more like shouting as loud as she can to say that
no, we will not forget!
My job as an actress is to play this role of woman, mother, wife, friend, heroine, and without too much objectivity.
Don't June's anxiety and intensity make you lose your mind?
Do you live like her in a hurry, and is stress a driving force for you?
Yes, absolutely, and that's something I've come to realize over the past ten years.
The more I have to do, the happier I am and the pressure stimulates me.
And it doesn't cost me at all.
On the contrary, I think it's rather a privilege to be like that.
But be careful, that does not prevent me from needing to feel supported, and this is the case with the team of
The Handmaid's Tale
.
I also need an energy that I feel is positive and creative to function well, and also kindness.
EDITOR'S RATING: 3/5
“The Handmaid's Tale”
, American series by Bruce Miller, with Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, Ann Dowd… Season 4 (2021), episodes 1 to 3/10 (45 to 60 minutes each).
