27-05-2025
Elisabeth Moss only took on Handmaid's Tale role after learning who would replace her: "Over my dead body"
Elisabeth Moss has said that she only accepted a role in The Handmaid's Tale after learning who would replace her, saying it made her realise how much she wanted it.
The long-running dystopian drama, which is currently in its sixth and final season, stars Moss as June Osborne, a woman who is forced to become a Handmaid and to bear children in the Republic of Gilead.
Based on Margaret Atwood's novel of the same name, the show, which first aired in 2017, follows June as she attempts to escape and reform Gilead's oppressive regime.
Appearing on The Jennifer Hudson Show, Moss said that she turned down the role as June twice before accepting it.
Revealing the real reason she accepted, Moss said that she only said yes after she learned who would be given the part if she turned it down.
Related: The Handmaid's Tale star explains meaning behind new episode's surprise reunion
"I wasn't quite sure if I was ready to make that commitment again, so I actually passed the first time they offered it to me," Moss said.
"I know, it seems insane now," she continued. "I'm so glad I've corrected that. And then they came back, and they very nicely offered it again, blah, blah, blah."
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"Then the thing that clinched it was – they leaked it to me, obviously on purpose, who they were going to offer it to if I didn't take it, and I was like, 'Over my dead body'."
Keeping the identity of her competition a secret, Moss said that she couldn't imagine anyone else in the role of June, which is why she agreed to do it.
She said: "It was the thing that made me realise that I needed to do it. I couldn't stand the idea of anyone else playing that role, you know what I mean? That was the thing that made me realise how badly I wanted to do it."
Seasons 1-5 of The Handmaid's Tale are available to stream now on .
The Handmaid's Tale season 6 is airing on Prime Video and Channel 4 in the UK.
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