Latest news with #SamiraWiley
North Wales Live
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- North Wales Live
Handmaid's Tale takes over Battersea as chilling dystopian series comes to an end
The Handmaid's Tale became a stark reality in London this week, with 30 handmaids standing in unison on the steps of the iconic Battersea Arts Centre. Ahead of the sixth and final season of the dystopian drama, which stars Elizabeth Moss and Samira Wiley, handmaids stood together at the London venue. It was a historic hub for Suffrage meetings when it was the Battersea Town Hall, and was the location where the pivotal passing of the People's Representation Act (1918) took place. The haunting display comes as new research, commissioned by Channel 4, shows that more than half of Brits (56%) feel the current global political climate closely mirrors the challenges faced in the award-winning show. The new study, which reviewed 1,500 adults, reveals three-quarters of Brits (76%) believe there is no better time to speak up and discuss the real-world issues all women still face today. That is especially as a further 47% do not believe women's rights are being protected in today's political climate. In reality, nearly six in 19 (59%) say women's rights have not progressed as expected by 2025. Trump's presidency, the rising violence against women, and Andrew Tate's online rhetoric were all cited as contributing factors that make Brits uneasy about their place in society. Amber Kirby at Channel 4, said: 'This groundbreaking series has captivated audiences around the world, and we are really proud to showcase the final season 'The Revolution is here' on Channel 4. This final season shifts focus to the Handmaids rising up as one, taking back control and rallying against oppression, which provides a satisfying conclusion and opens up vital conversations about the real-life challenges all women face today." Watch The Handmaid's Tale season 6 on Channel 4 from Saturday, 3 May.
Wales Online
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Handmaid's Tale takes over Battersea as chilling dystopian series comes to an end
Handmaid's Tale takes over Battersea as chilling dystopian series comes to an end Ahead of the sixth and final season of the dystopian drama, which stars Elizabeth Moss and Samira Wiley, handmaids stood together at the London venue, which was a historic hub for Suffrage meetings To mark S6 of The Handmaid's Tale on Channel 4, thirty handmaids march to historic Battersea Town Hall - site of Suffragette meetings and the passing of the People's Representation Act (1918) - aligning with the militant tactics of the group who fought for women's rights as the handmaids now fight for their own in the violent season finale (Image: Vicky Grout ) The Handmaid's Tale became a stark reality in London this week, with 30 handmaids standing in unison on the steps of the iconic Battersea Arts Centre. Ahead of the sixth and final season of the dystopian drama, which stars Elizabeth Moss and Samira Wiley, handmaids stood together at the London venue. It was a historic hub for Suffrage meetings when it was the Battersea Town Hall, and was the location where the pivotal passing of the People's Representation Act (1918) took place. The haunting display comes as new research, commissioned by Channel 4, shows that more than half of Brits (56%) feel the current global political climate closely mirrors the challenges faced in the award-winning show. The new study, which reviewed 1,500 adults, reveals three-quarters of Brits (76%) believe there is no better time to speak up and discuss the real-world issues all women still face today. That is especially as a further 47% do not believe women's rights are being protected in today's political climate. In reality, nearly six in 19 (59%) say women's rights have not progressed as expected by 2025. Trump's presidency, the rising violence against women, and Andrew Tate's online rhetoric were all cited as contributing factors that make Brits uneasy about their place in society. Article continues below Amber Kirby at Channel 4, said: 'This groundbreaking series has captivated audiences around the world, and we are really proud to showcase the final season 'The Revolution is here' on Channel 4. This final season shifts focus to the Handmaids rising up as one, taking back control and rallying against oppression, which provides a satisfying conclusion and opens up vital conversations about the real-life challenges all women face today." Watch The Handmaid's Tale season 6 on Channel 4 from Saturday, 3 May.
IOL News
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
The emotional rollercoaster of 'The Handmaid's Tale': Samira Wiley reveals why she's stepping away
Samira Wiley shares how the emotional toll of the series led her to step away, citing the need to protect her mental health. Image: X/@livcookegf If you've watched "The Handmaid's Tale", you'll know it's not for the faint-hearted. You need a spine of steel and, as they say, 'hair on your teeth', to survive the intensity of Gilead's world. The hit dystopian drama, based on Margaret Atwood's chilling 1985 novel, first premiered in 2017 and has gripped audiences ever since with its brutal storytelling, powerful performances, and terrifyingly close-to-home themes. Set in the fictional and oppressive regime of Gilead, the series follows the lives of women stripped of their rights in a patriarchal theocracy built on fear, violence, and control. Over the years, "The Handmaid's Tale" has earned critical acclaim and scooped numerous awards but it's also taken an emotional toll on its viewers and actors. As the show gears up for its sixth and final season, fans are bracing themselves. Some are eager to see how it all ends, while others are dreading the heartbreak and heavy themes that the final chapter will no doubt deliver. One actor who won't be returning for the upcoming series is Samira Wiley, who portrayed Moira Strand for six seasons. Moira was one of the few sparks of resistance in Gilead - a former handmaid turned rebel fighter and one of June's closest friends. She was fierce, loyal, and one of the lucky ones to escape to Canada, becoming a symbol of survival and activism. But for Wiley, her time with the series has come to an end. She won't be returning in the sequel. In an exclusive interview with "Parade", she said: 'I'm not gonna tease and say maybe or nothing. Nope. I am done with it. I am done with the trauma. I am. I mean it.' She credited Margaret Atwood's deep and layered writing for making the role so meaningful, but admitted the emotional weight was real. 'I feel like I have played my part and my story is done,' she said. Wiley also revealed she had to rely on tools like meditation and mindfulness just to detach from the darkness of Gilead. 'I often tell people who binge-watch the show, like, please take care of your mental health.' Elisabeth Moss in 'The Handmaid's Tale'. Image: X/@SiteJamesons Shows like "The Handmaid's Tale", while fictional, often mirror very real issues; oppression, abuse, and systemic control. Viewers may not realise how much it weighs on the mind, especially when watching back-to-back. The emotional impact can linger, and experts often advise pacing yourself, taking breaks, and talking about it if certain scenes hit close to home. Another familiar face from the show, Sam Jaeger, who played Mark Tuello (a US government official working to bring down Gilead), also reflected on the challenges of being part of the series. 'It's a hard show. It was a hard show to watch for some seasons, and I think we knew that,' Jaeger admitted. Still, he praised the creators for knowing exactly how they wanted the story to end. 'A lot of times people try to end shows, and they don't know how,' he said. But with "The Handmaid's Tale", 'They really stuck the landing.' 'You don't want to be lost. I understand, for all intents and purposes, you want to feel like we got to the end, and people feel satiated, but it also feels true to the show.' However, the story of Gilead is far from over. A sequel titled "The Testaments" is officially in the works, based on Margaret Atwood's follow-up novel of the same name. Set 15 years after the events of the original book, the new series shifts focus to a younger generation of women who have grown up knowing nothing but Gilead's oppressive regime. According to reports, "The Testaments" is a coming-of-age story centred around girls who have no memory of life before indoctrination. As they face being married off and forced into servitude, they begin to question the system and look for allies, both familiar and unexpected, in their fight for freedom and a life they can finally call their own. It seems the horrors of Gilead are far from over, but so too is the fight against it.
