Page 30 - aruba-today-20170422

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Saturday 22 april 2017
Elisabeth Moss returns to TV in Hulu’s ‘Handmaid’s Tale’

FRAZIER MOORE ber 9, they thought maybe
AP Television Writer they were making a docu-
NEW YORK (AP) — “The tim- mentary.”
ing has been uncanny,” However you take it, “The
says Margaret Atwood, Handmaid’s Tale” pre-
marveling at how her 1985 mieres Wednesday on Hulu
novel, “The Handmaid’s with three gripping epi-
Tale,” has not only been sodes. The remaining sev-
given renewed life as a TV en will be released each
series but has also gained Wednesday thereafter.
disturbing urgency. The cast includes Joseph
“Last November 7, they Fiennes, Alexis Bledel and
thought they were mak- Samira Wiley, and stars
ing a fantasy fiction series,” Elisabeth Moss as Offred,
Atwood says. “On Novem- who, as one of the few re-

This image released by Hulu shows Elisabeth Moss as Offred in a scene from, “The Handmaid’s
Tale,” premiering Wednesday on Hulu with three episodes. The remaining seven hours will be re-
leased each Wednesday thereafter.
Associated Press
maining fertile women in watch herself objectively you can see yourself in,”
the cruel dystopia of Gil- on film. Moss says. “I want you to
ead, is among the caste of “I was definitely one of think, ‘That’s how I would
women forced into sexual those actors who did not react. That’s how I would
servitude in a desperate at- enjoy watching myself,” feel.’”
tempt to repopulate a rav- she confides. “I’ve gone During a season hiatus for
aged world. without seeing films that “Mad Men,” Moss added
Such is life in this totalitar- I’ve done. I have only to her roster of oddly re-
ian society, where human watched about 50 percent latable performances:
rights are trampled and of ‘Mad Men’ episodes. But She played an Australian
women in particular are there came a point where police officer returning to
treated as property of the I had to start watching the her remote New Zealand
state. (‘Handmaid’s Tale’) dai- hometown where she con-
Needless to say, Offred is lies, and it was a lot easier fronted the disappearance
a career stretch for Moss, than I thought it would be. of a local 12-year-old girl in
who remains best known as You’re not wearing the ac- the acclaimed 2013 minise-
proto-feminist copywriter tor’s hat, but the produc- ries “Top of the Lake.”
Peggy Olson on the adver- er’s hat. And it allowed me “That allowed me to prove
tising drama “Mad Men,” to let go of that precious- to myself that I could do
and who initially caught ness about my own per- someone else other than
the audience’s eye as First formance and view things Peggy Olson,” says Moss. “I
Daughter Zoey Bartlet on based on what’s best for could have felt paralyzed
“The West Wing.” the show.” after ‘Mad Men,’ but ‘Top
Now 34, Moss further ex- The tone of “The Hand- of the Lake’ helped me un-
panded her horizons dur- maid’s Tale” is subdued, derstand there would be
ing the “Handmaid’s Tale” reflecting the oppressive other great material out
shoot in Toronto: She took conditions the women live there post-’Mad Men.’ It
on the additional role of under. And it posed an freed me up.”
producer. acting challenge for Moss, Now, along with several
“I had no interest in it just one that Atwood, 77, as other projects in the works,
being a title card,” she the novelist who created Moss looks forward to a
says, “and I was extremely her character, calls “pretty hoped-for second season
lucky. They listened to me difficult.”Moss’ problem, of “The Handmaid’s Tale”
and asked my advice on says Atwood, “is to show as unfolding real life seems
things in a way that I didn’t someone who is unable to to reinforce its power as a
expect. It’s been an amaz- speak out, because it’s too cautionary tale.
ing opportunity for me to dangerous, but who has to “Women who had taken for
learn. And now I’m totally convey to the audience granted their rights as wom-
obsessed with it! I’ve got those emotions she is sup- en are now really quite wor-
two different projects that pressing. We must be able ried,” says Atwood, noting
I’m considering buying. I’ve to be inside her mind, while the women’s marches and
got lists on my phone for also being in the larger situ- other protests since Donald
actors I might like to cast!” ation.” Trump became president.
One thing she learned “I want Offred to be the “I would say they’re right to
along the way: How to wife, mother or friend that be concerned.”q