After taking a step back from acting, Alexis Bledel gave a rare interview in which she reflected on her last role before her hiatus.
Bledel, 43, discussed her time on The Handmaid’s Tale with The Hollywood Reporter on Thursday, May 22, ahead of the show’s series finale, saying, “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.”
Bledel broke down the difficult story lines written for her character, who faced sexual abuse amid upheaval in Gilead. “It was deeply upsetting to even imagine Emily going through something like that,” she added. “Being captured, powerless, with no say over her body.”
Miller weighed in on how The Handmaid’s Tale explored controversial topics, adding, “Every time I thought Hulu would balk at a controversial story line, they didn’t. It’s a story of a society that’s built on rape. You’re going to show sexual assault because that’s what it’s built on.”
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He continued: “I’m trying to minimize what we see and maximize what we feel. You don’t need to be there to see what happened to poor Emily, but when we show the impact, that should be real. So real that you think you saw it.”
Bledel’s insight comes after the actress stepped away from Hollywood. She previously surprised The Handmaid’s Tale viewers when she announced her exit after season 4.
“After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid’s Tale at this time,” she told Variety in a 2022 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.”
Despite Bledel’s character no longer being on the show, fans have still wondered whether she could return ahead of the series finale. Miller addressed the possibility during an interview with Us Weekly in April, “I don’t know who that is. … I’m just kidding.”
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Miller dodged the question but did hint at some surprises. “There are so many people who I wish came back,” he added. “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.”
In addition to her rare interview, Bledel recently signed on to narrate the audiobook for the 50th anniversary edition of Natalie Babbitt‘s novel Tuck Everlasting.
“It has been an amazing experience to revisit this world,” Bledel said in a statement earlier this month. “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.”
