This article contains references to sexual assault, consent, abuse and violence
The Handmaid's Tale has become one of the most successful and profound television shows thanks to the talented cast and their characters. Based on the 1985 novel of the same name, The Handmaid's Tale mainly follows the perspective of June Osborne (Elisabeth Moss) as she details what happened to the United States after it fell to a totalitarian government, known as Gilead. Not long after the takeover, June learns that she, along with several other women, will become Handmaids for their new leaders and be forced to reproduce to "help" increase the birth rates. Unsurprisingly, June slowly rebels and encourages other women too so they can be reunited with their families.
While Elisabeth Moss' particularly shines as the headstrong but morally complex June, she isn't the only character to stand out in the series. Thanks to the talented ensemble, The Handmaid's Tale also features several memorable characters who have helped to elevate a scene or provide some emotional performances. Even actors, such as Joseph Fiennes and Ann Dowd, who play The Handmaid Tale's most villainous characters deserve credit for how detestable they have made them.
Elisabeth Moss As June Osborne (Offred/Ofjoseph)
Playing the determined but reckless hero, June Osborne, in The Handmaid's Tale is the Emmy-Award-winning Elisabeth Moss. Moss has received critical acclaim for her role as June, particularly since she has managed to capture her mannerisms and emotions perfectly. While this is certainly one of her more memorable roles, Moss was also seen to shine as Peggy Olson in the period drama, Mad Men, and Zoey Barlett in the political drama West Wing. She has also gained fame for appearing in 2019 for playing Kitty Tyler/Dahlia in Jordan Peele's psychological horror, Us, and Cecilia Kass in The Invisible Man.
Joseph Fiennes As Commander Fred Waterford
One of the founders of Gilead, Commander Fred Waterford is one of the cruelest villains of The Handmaid's Tale as he is responsible for all the pain June and her allies experience at the hands of the regime. He is played by Joseph Fiennes, who does an excellent job in capturing the Commander's loathsome attitude and abhorrent personality. However, this isn't his most recognizable role. Before ing The Handmaid's Tale cast in 2017, Fiennes received critical acclaim for playing Will Shakespeare in the 1997 Academy Award-winning movie, Shakespeare in Love, Robert Dudley in the 1998 movie, Elizabeth, and Bassanio in The Merchant of Venice.
Yvonne Strahovski As Serena Joy Waterford
Although Serena Waterford doesn't have as much power as her husband, Fred, she is an important figure in Gilead's story as it was revealed that she was one of its founders. Played by Yvonne Strahovski, Serena quickly made an enemy of June as she abused her power to fulfill her greatest desires. While Strahovski got her breakout role playing the skilled CIA agent, Sarah Walker, in Chuck, she has found her niche in more complex and darker projects, playing serial killer Hannah McKay in Dexter and Claire in 2019's thriller Angel of Mine. She also starred as Emily in 2018's The Predator and Muri Forester in 2021's The Tomorrow War.
Alexis Bledel As Emily Malek (Ofglen/Ofjoseph)
One of the first Handmaids to rebel against the regime was the brave and intelligent Emily; she ended up becoming a close friend of June's and inspired her to try and leave Gilead. She is played by the talented Alexis Bledel, who won an Emmy for her role as Ofglen/Emily in 2017. Like many of The Handmaid's Tale cast, Bledel has had a successful career as she quickly garnered fame for playing Rory Gilmore in the teen drama Gilmore Girls and Becky in Sin City. She also played Lena in The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants.
O-T Fagbenle As Luke Bankole
One of the The Handmaid's Tale is Luke Bankole - June's husband who spent the first couple of seasons in Canada trying to track her down and helped the women who escaped Gilead recover from their traumatic experiences. He is played by O-T Fagbenle, who is best known for portraying Natasha Romanoff's close friend Mason in the 2021 MCU movie Black Widow, Barack Obama in the drama series, The First Lady, and the titular character in Maxxx. Bankole has also lent his voice to the Assassin's Creed video game franchise, voicing Jack Rantham in Black Flag.
Samira Wiley As Moira Strand
June's best friend, Moira, is also another significant character in The Handmaid's Tale as she became the first person to escape Gilead, providing the other Handmaids with hope and courage that they could escape too. She is played by Samira Wiley, who is best known for portraying one of Orange Is The New Black most likable characters, Poussey Washington, and has lent her voice to animated shows and video games, including The Walking Dead: Michonne and Blade Runner: Black Lotus.
Ann Dowd As Aunt Lydia/Lydia Clements
Ann Dowd won an Emmy in 2017 playing the terrifying and cruel Aunt Lydia; a woman who is put in charge of the other Handmaids and teaches them about Gildead's rules. Like many of The Handmaid's Tale cast , she has participated in several well-known projects, playing Estrabrook Masters in Masters of Sex, Jill Beckett in 1993's Philadelphia, Sandra in 2012's Compliance, and Joan in the 2018 horror Hereditary. She also appeared in Lambs of God as Sister Margarita and Patricia Turnbull in 2022's political movie, The Independent.
Madeline Brewer As Janine Lindo (Ofwarren/Ofdaniel/Ofhoward)
In 2016, Madeline Brewer was seen to The Handmaid's Tale cast as Janine Lando - an ally of June's, who suffered greatly under the Gilead regime after she was enslaved. While Janine initially obeyed Aunt Lydia and followed every Gilead law after they took her eye, she soon rebelled again once she realized how corrupt the society was. While Janine is certainly Brewer's most successful role (as this marked her first Emmy nomination), she has got a few other notable credits under her resume, playing Tricia Miller in Orange Is The New Black, Dawn in Hustlers, and Miranda Cates in Hemlock Grove.
Max Minghella As Commander Nick Blaine
Max Minghella plays the intelligent Nick Blaine, a man who had a forbidden and complicated romance with June when she was in Gilead. He is also an important figure in the rebellion as he often used his status as a Commander to try and bring Gilead down from the inside. Given that not much is known about Nick in the novel, Minghella has done a great job in developing Nick's personality and making the character his own. Minghella has also shown his acting versatility by playing Ben Harpen in The Ides of March, Detective William Schenk in 2021's Spiral: From The Book Of Saw, and Irving Balberg in 2022's Babylon.
Amanda Brugel As Rita Blue
Played by Amanda Brugel, Rita was a Martha who was assigned to the Waterfords to help Serena Joy maintain the house and look after the children. She is also an ally of June's, helping the former Handmaid with her plan to free dozens of children from Gilead so they could all begin a new life in Canada. Given that Brugel shines as Rita, some may be interested in her other credits, which include playing Michelle Krasnoff in Seed, Marci Coates in Orphan Black, and Pastor Nina Gomez in Kim's Convenience.
Bradley Whitford As Commander Joseph Lawrence
Bradley Whitford is the actor behind the conniving Commander Joseph Lawrence, a high-ranking officer who had a complex relationship with June. While he has been nominated and won several awards for his portrayal of Commander Lawrence (including an Emmy), this isn't his best role. Whitford also won an Emmy for playing Josh Lyman in The West Wing and Marcy in Transparent. He also received critical acclaim for appearing as Dean Armitage in Jordan Peele's psychological horror Get Out, Stephen Sondheim in tick, tick...BOOM! and Don DaGradi in Saving Mr. Banks. Some may also recognize him as Jake's father, Roger, in Brooklyn Nine-Nine and as Jamey Collins in Philadelphia.
The Handmaid's Tale ing Cast & Characters
Nina Kiri As Alma: Nina Kiri played Alma - a rebellious Handmaid and a close friend of June's, who helped her get in touch with Mayday and the resistance. Sadly, she was killed after being hit by a train while trying to escape. While Alma is her biggest role, Kiri is also known for playing Harmony in the dystopian series See, Nina in Blood, and Zoe in Zoe's Having A Baby.
Bahia Watson As Brianna: Bahia Watson also ed The Handmaid's Tale cast as Brianna, a Handmaid who was also killed in season 4 after being hit by a train. Along with being a successful actor in theater, Watson has also lent her voice to several animation shows, including Big Blue, Total DramaRama, and Strawberry Shortcake: Berry In The Big City. She also had a brief stint in Star Trek: Discovery as May.
Stephen Kunken As Commander Warren Putnam: Kunken plays the abusive and despicable Commander Warren Putnam. Before ing The Handmaid's Tale cast, he was known for playing Harry in the TV drama The Affair and Ari Spyros in Billions.
Ever Carradine As Naomi Lawrence: Once married to Warren Putnam (and now Joseph), Naomi Lawrence is a harsh and cold-hearted Wife who abuses her power over the Handmaids regularly. She is played by Ever Carradine, who is best known for playing Janet Stein in Runaways and Sharon Beck in Major Crimes.
Sam Jaeger As Mark Tuello: Sam Jaeger played Mark Tuello, the US Government-In-Exile representative that helps June readjust to life in Canada and works on freeing the other individuals enslaved by Gilead. Jaegar is best known for playing Roe Messner in The Eyes of Tammy Faye and Robert Stanton in Why Women Kill.
Kristen Gutoskie As Beth: Beth was a Martha as well as a member of the resistance who helped arrange the liberation of 86 children and several other enslaved women. She was portrayed by Kristen Gutoskie, who is best known for playing Katie Frank in Containment and the villainous Seline in The Vampire Diaries.
Julie Dretzin As Eleanor Lawrence: Julie Dretzin ed The Handmaid's Tale cast in season 2 as Eleanor Lawrence, Joseph's first wife. Her most successful credits include playing Alexandra Kain in How To Get Away With Murder and Pamela in Breaking Bad.
Sydney Sweeney As Eden Spencer: Before she received critical acclaim for playing Cassie Howard in Euphoria, Sydney Sweeney had a ing role in The Handmaid's Tale as Eden. She was forced to marry Nick and was sadly executed after she was found guilty of infidelity. Sweeney is also known for playing Olivia Mossbacher in The White Lotus and Alice in Sharp Objects.
Clea DuVall As Sylvia: Clea Duvall ed The Handmaid's Tale cast in season 2 as Emily's kind wife, Sylvia. Duvall is also known for playing Cora Lijek in 2012's Argo and Marjorie Palmiotti in Veep.
Sugenja Sri As Sienna: Sienna is another Martha who was killed after helping June free several enslaved women and 86 children. She is portrayed by Sugenja Sri, who is known for playing Stephanie Kapoor in Designated Driver and Jessica Connolly in Christmas Lucky Charm.
Christopher Meloni As High Commander George Winslow: Law & Order: SVU actor Christopher Meloni ed The Handmaid's Tale cast in season 3 as the cold High Commanding officer, George Winslow. He has also appeared in 2013's Man of Steel as Colonel Nathan Hardy.
Mckenna Grace As Esther Keyes: Mckenna Grace plays Esther Keyes, a young teenager who is determined to leave Gilead after the regime forced her to become a Wife and Handmaid. Some of her other notable credits include I, Tonya, Young Sheldon, Fuller House, Captain Marvel, and The Haunting of Hill House.
Carey Cox As Rose Blaine: Carey Cox ed The Handmaid's Tale cast in season 5 as Nick's second wife, Rose. While Rose is her biggest role, Cox has also appeared as David's assistant in 2023's crime drama Sharper and Gwynevere in the short Cottagecore Hardcore.
Genevieve Angelson As Alanis Wheeler: Angela Wheeler is the Wife of Ryan Wheeler, who decides to provide shelter for Serena after the Gilead Information Center is closed down in season 5. However, her true colors are soon revealed as she tries to take Serena's baby from her. She is portrayed by Genevieve Angelson, who is best known for playing Dr. Mia Castries in New Amsterdam, Indigo in The Aftermath Party, and Sally Brooks in This is Us.
Lucas Neff As Ryan Wheeler: Lucas Neff also ed The Handmaid's Tale cast in season 5 as Gilead er and Alanis Wheeler's husband, Ryan. He is best known for playing Jimmy Chance in the comedy Raising Hope and Pablo in 2019's Marriage Story.