Latest news with #Bledel
Time of India
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Alexis Bledel returns in jaw-dropping Handmaid's Tale series finale
In a surprise that left audiences both shocked and tearful, Alexis Bledel had a strong comeback to The Handmaid's Tale in the series finale, serving as a full-circle experience for one of TV's most adored characters. The 43-year-old star, who played Emily Malek (née Ofglen), came back to Gilead on the May 27 finale after leaving the Hulu show before season 5. Her surprise return provided much-needed closure to her character's storyline and a poignant reunion with Elisabeth Moss's June Osborne. It was the right thing to do to close the chapter on Emily's story and give the audience a feeling of completion," Bledel explained to The Hollywood Reporter. "Bruce [Miller] assembled such a generous and talented team, and so many of the original crew members were still with us in season six. The production is like a well-oiled machine — everybody brings their A-game. Bledel, Emmy winner for her chilling acting as Emily, replied it was an "immediate yes" when she was approached to return for the series finale — a feeling that was shared by Moss, 42, who was an early proponent of the idea. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You will never turn off your computer again. Undo "I told [Miller] back then, 'You see now that you've shared that with me, we have to do it?'" Moss explained. "And she wanted to do it all along. She didn't require convincing whatsoever. My first scripted scene on day one was with Alexis. So it was important to get to work with her once again." In the season finale, Emily's backstory is revealed as she informs that she had been secretly collaborating with the rebellion against Gilead during her time away from the show. She also informs that, with the assistance of a sympathetic Commander, she was able to maintain contact with her wife Sylvia (played by Clea DuVall) and their child — a moment of ultimate reward for fans who had been cheering for her character's family reunion for so long. Bledel's return lent emotional depth to the conclusion of The Handmaid's Tale, which has been praised for its consideration of resistance, identity, and survival in a dystopian society. Her return contributed not just a sense of narrative resolution, but also an acknowledgement of the lasting influence of her character. Now that the series has wrapped, Emily's return is one of the most bittersweet and fulfilling surprises in the history of the show — a last, optimistic nod to strength and those bonds which remain even in the bleakest of situations.
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Elle
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
'The Handmaid's Tale' Finally Brings Back [Spoiler] in the Series Finale
Spoilers below. The Handmaid's Tale has put us through the wringer throughout its final season (and the whole series, really), but luckily, not all of the surprises have been brutal. In this week's season 6 finale—the show's final episode—June (Elisabeth Moss) and viewers at home were treated to Emily's (Alexis Bledel) shocking but welcome return. The character, who was introduced in the show's first season, was written off after season 4 when Bledel stepped away from the series. In season 5, Emily's wife, Sylvia (Clea DuVall), tells June that Emily returned to Gilead on a personal mission to seek revenge and find Aunt Lydia. Since then, she's been missing in action, until this week's finale scene, where Emily and June reunite and take a walk together in a freed Boston. 'It was an immediate yes,' Bledel told The Hollywood Reporter of returning to Handmaid's for the finale. 'It felt right to bring closure to Emily's journey and offer the audience a sense of completion. Bruce put together such a kind and talented group, and so many of the original crew were still there in season six. The production runs like a well-oiled machine — everyone brings their best. I'm excited to see what they create in [sequel series] The Testaments.' Bledel added, 'I hope viewers take away to keep hope alive when things seem impossible. Even if it seems like seeds you plant couldn't possibly grow, plant seeds of hope anyway. You never know; they might find a way.' The actress announced her departure from The Handmaid's Tale in May 2022, ahead of the season 5 premiere. 'After much thought, I felt I had to step away from 'The Handmaid's Tale' at this time,' she told Variety in a statement. 'I am forever grateful to Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support.' At the time, Moss told Entertainment Tonight that Bledel's exit 'wasn't the easiest thing in the world to handle, I'll be honest with you, because she's such a great, fantastic part of the show. But I do think that it was handled in a really good way.' Years later, the star, director, and executive producer opened up about bringing Bledel—and Emily—back to Handmaid's for its emotional conclusion. 'Bruce talked to me about bringing her back a while ago, before there was even an outline or script,' Moss told THR. 'I think I said to him at the time, 'You realize now that you've told me that, we have to do it.' It's not the easiest thing in the world to call an actor and be like, 'Can you come back for this one episode?' They're busy. But I was like, 'She has to do it.' I get very passionate about these things! And she wanted to do it from the beginning. She didn't need convincing at all. My first official scene on day one [on set] was with Alexis. So it meant a lot to get to work with her again.' That surprise cameo meant a lot to fans, too.
Gizmodo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
How ‘The Handmaid's Tale' Pulled Off That Surprising Finale Reunion
If you've been following io9's coverage of The Handmaid's Tale season six, you might have caught our list of five things viewers needed to remember about season five. There was a long gap between seasons, and quite a few high-stakes plot threads to keep track of. One of the items on that list was the departure of fan-favorite character, whose absence was explained away in the season five premiere. We wondered if perhaps that person might return in season six, and, well… Yes! Alexis Bledel's Emily, fearless fighter and noted salted caramel ice cream fan, did indeed show up for some closure in 'The Handmaid's Tale,' the series finale episode. In season five, we learned she'd left her wife and son—after a hard-fought escape to safety—to return to Gilead and keep fighting. It was an abrupt end for a character who'd been so important as both a friend to June (Elisabeth Moss) as well as to the plot of The Handmaid's Tale as a whole; it's because of Emily that we learned about Mayday. She's the reason why Bradley Whitford's Commander Lawrence entered the story. Her experiences also illuminated the bleak life for exiles in the Colonies, as well as the genital mutilation forced upon women who refused to obey Gilead's draconian laws. Though the character's absence was due to Bledel choosing to leave the series, it was tempting to imagine Emily would soon pop up again. But she was MIA throughout season five and all of season six until the very end. In interviews with the Hollywood Reporter, Bledel as well as Moss and show creator Bruce Miller discussed how they planned her cameo. 'We were both thrilled that it might work out,' Miller told THR. 'I think she was really excited when we talked. The only thing that was hard was the logistics to get her up for the time we needed … It was wonderful to see her and [Moss] get right back into it after all that time.' Moss added, 'She wanted to do it from the beginning. She didn't need convincing at all. My first official scene on day one [on set] was with Alexis. So it meant a lot to get to work with her again.' In a separate interview with THR, Bledel said returning to The Handmaid's Tale was 'an immediate yes' because 'it felt right to bring closure to Emily's journey and offer the audience a sense of completion … I hope viewers take away to keep hope alive when things seem impossible. Even if it seems like seeds you plant couldn't possibly grow, plant seeds of hope anyway. You never know; they might find a way.' The Handmaid's Tale finale is now streaming on Hulu.
Elle
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
In The 'Handmaid's Tale' Finale, A Fan Favourite Made An Unexpected Return: 'It Was An Immediate Yes'
Spoilers for the finale of The Handmaid's Tale below. Blessed be the fruit, indeed. Today, after six seasons, The Handmaid's Tale came to an end with the finale airing in the US on Hulu. While UK viewers - watching on Channel 4 and Amazon Prime video — will have to wait a little longer to see the finale, those who have seen the show were treated to a very unexpected cameo. Viewers who've made it all the way to the end were treated to an appearance by Alexis Bledel, who — as Elisabeth Moss walked around her former Gilead neighbourhood — returned eight years after her last appearance, saying 'Blessed be the fruit' and shocking June, along with audiences. FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE Bledel unexpectedly left the show at the end of season four. The series explained her absence in series five, claiming she'd gone back to Gilead to fight and find Aunt Lydia, after saying goodbye to her wife and son. Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter about the cameo, Bledel revealed: 'It was an immediate yes. It felt right to bring closure to Emily's journey and offer the audience a sense of completion. Bruce [Miller, the series creator who wrote the final episode] put together such a kind and talented group, and so many of the original crew were still there in season six. The production runs like a well-oiled machine — everyone brings their best. I'm excited to see what they create in [sequel series] The Testaments.' In the show's finale, Emily and June took a walk around the neighbourhood (as they had many times in previous series) where Bledel's character revealed she had been a Martha for a Commander and she had managed to keep contact with her family. 'They're the reason I'm fighting,' she says. The appearance ended with an emotional dream sequence, where June imagines they women were never in Gilead and sees the two of them — along with Moira (Samira Wiley), Janine (Madeline Brewer), Rita (Amanda Brugel) and killed handmaids Alma (Nina Kiri) and Brianna (Bahia Watson) — together and singing karaoke in a bar to 'Landslide' by Fleetwood Mac. The Handmaid's Tale airs on Channel 4 and Prime Video in the UK – you can sign up now for a free 30-day Prime Video trial. ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Inside Alexis Bledel's Life Now: Where Is the Actress After Stepping Away From Hollywood?
Alexis Bledel became a household name for roles in Gilmore Girls, The Handmaid's Tale and more — but she has since stepped out of the public eye. Bledel dove into her acting career after dropping out of New York University when she was cast in Gilmore Girls. Playing Rory Gilmore from 2000 to 2007 helped Bledel skyrocket to fame before she branched out with the film franchise Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and TV series including Mad Men, Us & Them and The Handmaid's Tale. Off screen, Bledel found love with Vincent Kartheiser, whom she met on the set of Mad Men. They got married in 2014 and welcomed their first child, a son, one year later. Kartheiser filed for divorce in August 2022 and the split was finalized later that month. Bledel, meanwhile, surprised fans when she left The Handmaid's Tale that same year after playing Emily in seasons 1 to 4. She has since kept a low profile and has yet to appear in any new projects. 'Gilmore Girls' Cast: Where Are They Now? Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel, Milo Ventimiglia and More Keep scrolling for a breakdown of Bledel's rise to fame — and a glimpse into her life now: After being cast as Lauren Graham's onscreen daughter in Gilmore Girls, Bledel made her feature film debut opposite Jonathan Jackson in Tuck Everlasting. She then booked the role of Lena opposite Amber Tamblyn, America Ferrera and Blake Lively in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants and its sequel. Bledel's other notable projects include The Good Guy, Post Grad, Violet & Daisy, Jenny's Wedding and Crypto. On the small screen, Bledel starred in Mad Men, Us & Them and The Handmaid's Tale. The actress reprised her role of Rory Gilmore in Netflix's 2016 revival, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. 'When [creator Amy Sherman-Palladino] went through all the major points of what she wanted to do — which she said just kind of spilled out of her, and she really felt that [was] a real indication that this was the right time and the right thing and the right way to tell the story — I liked it,' Bledel told The Hollywood Reporter in 2016. 'I just thought it was great and I was excited to get started.' Bledel played Emily in four seasons of The Handmaid's Tale, which scored her four Primetime Emmy Award nominations — including a win for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series. She also received three Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Outstanding Ensemble Cast in a Drama Series. Outside of TV and film, Bledel was in various plays such as Love, Loss, and What I Wore, Regrets and College Republicans. 'Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' Cast: Where Are They Now? Before getting married to Kartheiser, Bledel dated her Gilmore Girls costar Milo Ventimiglia for four years before their 2006 split. She was also briefly linked to Jared Padalecki and John Paul. She started dating Kartheiser in 2012 and they got married two years later before their son's arrival. In May 2022, Bledel announced her departure from The Handmaid's Tale. "After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid's Tale at this time," she told Variety in a statement. "I am forever grateful to [executive producer] Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support." Three months later, Us broke the news that Bledel and Kartheiser split after eight years of marriage. Bledel's final episode of The Handmaid's Tale was also her last credit to date. Creator Miller previously weighed in on whether Bledel could return for the show's sixth and final season. "There are so many people who I wish came back. We've had such good luck with our guest stars just as people and how wonderful they are. But I don't want to blow anything," he told Us in April 2025. "There are people who return and the same thing in the Testaments [spinoff]. We're gonna bring characters from The Handmaid's Tale to that world as well. So there are people who show up — but to tell you who they are will take away all the fun." Miller expertly dodged a direct question about Bledel's character Emily, joking, "I don't know who that is. ... I'm just kidding." One month later, Bledel did a rare interview reflecting on her time on the show, telling The Hollywood Reporter, 'I was actually offered the role [of Emily] and when I read the pilot script, I immediately said yes. Somehow, [creator] Bruce [Miller] just knew I had Ofglen in me.' 'The Handmaid's Tale' Cast: See the Hulu Show's Stars Then and Now In March 2024, Bledel was photographed at the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 32nd Annual Academy Awards Viewing Party in West Hollywood, California. The event was her first red carpet since an event in 2020 and a virtual appearance on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen one year later. Bledel also released a statement in December 2024 alongside her The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars Ferrera and Tamblyn in support of Lively after she filed a sexual harassment complaint against Justin Baldoni, who denied the accusations. 'As Blake's friends and sisters for over twenty years, we stand with her in solidarity as she fights back against the reported campaign waged to destroy her reputation,' the trio wrote in a joint statement shared via Instagram. 'Throughout the filming of It Ends with Us, we saw her summon the courage to ask for a safe workplace for herself and colleagues on set, and we are appalled to read the evidence of a premeditated and vindictive effort that ensued to discredit her voice. Most upsetting is the unabashed exploitation of domestic violence survivors' stories to silence a woman who asked for safety. The hypocrisy is astounding.' The statement continued: 'We are struck by the reality that even if a woman is as strong, celebrated, and resourced as our friend Blake, she can face forceful retaliation for daring to ask for a safe working environment. We are inspired by our sister's courage to stand up for herself and others.' Bledel has often reunited with her The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants costars over the years, which they continue to document on social media. After taking a break from Hollywood, Bledel signed on to narrate the audiobook for the 50th anniversary edition of Natalie Babbit's novel Tuck Everlasting. 'It has been an amazing experience to revisit this world,' Bledel said in a statement. 'Tuck Everlasting holds a special place in my heart, having played Winnie Foster in the film many years ago. Narrating this beloved story for its 50th anniversary edition is a wonderful journey back into a tale that challenges us to think about what it truly means to live a meaningful life.'
