The Handmaid's Tale Cast Answer The 50 Most Googled Questions About The Show

Okay, ready?

You want to practice it?

No, I think I've got it.

[cast laughing] I'm going to follow you up.

We're going to rehearse.

Do you want to practice?

We're the cast of The Handmaid's Tale

and we are going to answer the most Googled questions.

[digitized music]

Where does The Handmaid's Tale take place?

They're going to want real answers.

Boston.

Boston. Yeah.

I mean, sometimes we go outside of Boston,

but it's basically Boston.

Cambridge. Cambridge, yeah, exactly.

What does blessed be the fruit mean?

Wait, doesn't it mean your-

Your ovaries.

It's supposed to be the fruits of your womb.

The fruit of your womb. The fruit of your womb.

The babies that come.

Yeah, may it be fruitful.

Why can't the wives of Gilead get pregnant?

Well, some of us can.

[Elisabeth laughing]

To be fair.

Okay, the serious answer

is there is a fertility crisis in...

In their dystopian future.

[all talking at once]

You know, as the spokeswoman for this kind of thing-

Yeah, why are you talking?

I will say that there was an environmental crisis

in our dystopian future that where we are setting Gilead.

And look at me on my podium.

Okay, Yvonne, the show's over.

We only picked the most fertile ones.

I got into character too much. Do you want to do that one?

Can a Handmaid become a wife?

Absolutely not.

Nice. Nice, nice. It hit the box.

Oh, I like this one.

Why did June spit out the cookie?

What season was this?

Oh, Season One I think.

Oh, the macaroon?

Yeah, it was too sweet.

You did it out of spite.

Out of spite because someone,

either Naomi or you gave it to me and...

And you were like, Nah, I don't like you.

= And I was like, Nah.

[Yvonne laughing]

So the answer is because of spite.

Okay. Why did Aunt Lydia take Janine's eye?

This is probably a better question answered by you, but I...

You do what you like, dear, I'll correct you.

[everyone laughing]

Aunt Lydia took Janine's eye

because she was just like teaching her a lesson, right?

But also she spoke out of turn and she was-

Yes, but she also said, fuck off twice.

And I told her to stop it.

It was the second one that did it.

And I said, Don't do it again, and she did.

[Madeline] Oh, no. She was warned.

[everyone laughing]

Oh, no.

She was warned.

She was warned. That's fair.

So, the punishment fits the crime.

Yep.

Okay. Why did Rita tell Fred that Serena was pregnant?

You wanted to create chaos for me, remember? Wasn't that-

Yes, that's why The whole thing?

That's right. I think so.

Why would you not want Fred to know?

Because I was in detention and I didn't want him to know

because I was done with him by that point.

Right? And I was like, No.

But he still was going to find out at some point, no?

But also at the time, I also thought,

because you know how important babies are to Rita,

I also thought perhaps it is something

that he should be involved in

because he is still the father.

[Elisabeth] Right.

It was a fucked up thing to...

Uh oh. She's fucked up! That's my answer.

That's it. Perfect. Good answer.

We're messy. Okay.

Why did they cut off Serena's finger

in The Handmaid's Tale?

Guys, I have the finger in my handbag today.

I took my set bag here and it's a lot...

And I haven't used it since the last day on set.

And that was the last...

So you took it? They gave me the finger.

Okay, so why did they cut off Serena's finger?

Do you remember?

Because I read from a book

in front of the whole panel of men that run Gilead.

And to prove a point to try

and advocate for women's rights, actually.

Defensive again.

Here's Serena on her podium.

Does Aunt Lydia turn on Gilead?

I can't answer that. Sorry.

Thank you very much.

Throw it. That's a spoiler.

How did Moira escape?

Murder.

Murder and driving.

Took care of it.

Took care of it.

Now, when is The Handmaid's Tale set?

In a dystopian future, right?

So it's kind of now, but in the future.

The present.

I thought it was a parallel present.

Yeah. Basically.

Why did June cut her ear on The Handmaid's Tale?

Because I think she was trying to get her tag off, right?

Because she didn't want to get recognized. She was escaping.

She did cut again.

You cut your ear?

Yeah, remember I cut off the part that has the tag.

You are so hardcore.

I know.

Remember all the blood, it like all...

I am super cool.

What did June write on the wall on The Handmaid's Tale?

Don't let the bastard...

Oh, sorry. It's better in Latin.

Nolite te bastardes carborundorum.

Don't let the bastards grind you down.

You have that nailed. I love it.

[Ann] I know. She really does.

[Madeline] She does.

[Elisabeth] Thanks, guys!

Does Rita survive The Handmaid's Tale?

Oh, I mean, come on...

No.

Like suspense though.

I'm just joking. Yes.

Metaphorically No. Yeah.

What happened to Janine and Esther in Handmaid's Tale?

Meaning like that scene where you...

Yeah. Which you directed.

Yeah. So that's a you question.

They eat the chocolate and Esther got poisoned.

Right? That's what they're talking about.

Well, you also got poisoned.

Huh? Yeah. Sorry, you got poisoned too. I apologize.

Yeah, you did get poisoned as well.

What does under his eye mean in The Handmaid's Tale?

It means you're under his protection.

He will keep his eye upon you.

Well, who's he, though?

Oh, God. Toss. There it is.

Oh, Arthur. Two times.

Two times.

I'm sorry, dear.

What does, May the Lord open mean?

May the Lord open your fruitful womb body entrance.

Entrance.

That was like a haiku. That was nice.

That was really beautiful. I like that.

Mayhem.

How did they determine who was sent to Jezebel's?

I think it's just punishment thing.

I remember having a speech about...

I had a choice, I could go to Jezebel's or the colonies.

[Cast] Yeah. Oh yeah.

That is a little confusing being a fertile person.

Yeah. I think because also it just...

I mean, they break the rules all the time, right?

[Samira] Yeah, yeah.

It's like, it also was just a punchline.

It's kind of like, What did they eat today?

Exactly.

Because I was sent to the colonies straight off.

Previously, I think I was sent to the Jezebels.

I was just being a little too rambunctious.

Mouthy? Mouthy.

Again, once again with the mouth.

I guess.

One eye wasn't enough.

[everyone laughing]

Is Nick a part of Mayday?

Oh, not a Nick question.

Oh, actually...

Wait, do I know the answer to this?

No, actually, though.

Complicated, dark, and stormy.

That's right.

Haikus just left and right. Boom, boom, boom!

Oh guys, does June love Nick or Luke?

Tell us, doll.

Can we order cocktails and talk about it?

I love girl talk.

I know.

It's a lovely question.

I've sworn to never answer it,

but I do think that if it's possible

she loves them both in very different ways.

And I think that her and Luke have something

that is so special,

and her and Nick have something that is so special.

And that's why it's a love triangle.

But which one is special and sexy?

[Elisabeth laughing]

Oh, come on! That's like an impossible choice.

I can't choose. Right?

Yeah. I mean, maybe you can't.

Why do Handmaids wear red?

Blood

I mean, that's what comes to mind.

Margaret Atwood-

Fertile.

The fertility, yeah.

Yeah, that makes sense.

Because they still...

Menstruation. Yeah?

And also it's a color that represents

The Scarlet Letter.

Oh, true.

Oh!

We represent-

Shame. Shame and...

You know what I mean? It's like being...

Oh, that's a lot.

Yeah. So that's actually why they put us

in red, I believe.

Put that one down.

Does Luke have a job?

[everyone laughing]

Oh my God.

I think dutifully waiting for me to return is a job.

June is a handful. That's enough of a job.

Isn't he a contractor? Isn't he in construction?

What?

Right? I'm not making it up.

He's in construction. Thank you.

Wow! He was really in-

Just immediately like, immediately like, What?

Can you picture O-T as a construction worker?

No, I can't.

Does Hannah get out of Gilead?

[Amanda] Million dollar question.

The thing is, is if you keep Googling,

you will find out the answer to this

as it's on the internet.

Because it's in the book.

[everyone commenting and mumbling at once]

She wrote that. So we know what happened.

Well, if it's on Google, can't we just tell them?

I mean, can we say it with our teeth clenched like this?

[everyone laughing]

They can't hear you if you talk like this.

It's a funny question, because it is out there,

the answer, actually.

You can watch the sequel on Hulu.

What happened to Rita's son in The Handmaids Tale?

Oh, he died fighting.

I've never known what side,

and I always also chose that he was fighting for Gilead.

The last time I saw him, we got in a fight

because I didn't want him to fight for Gilead.

And he did and he was like,

I'm in it! I love Serena Joy, I'm going to fight for her.

And then he went off and he got killed.

And that was the last time I saw him.

What's your process?

[Amanda laughing]

I'm serious.

She's a real actress.

But don't you think that would be more interesting if he-

Yes! Whatever you're going to say. Yes, that's it.

That's 100%. Way more interesting.

What song did Janine sing to her baby

in The Handmaid's Tale?

I think there's two.

The Bob Marley song, Three Little Birds.

And then she sings, I Only Want To Be With You

by Dusty Springfield.

Good for you, honey.

I think it's just the two.

I do sing quite a bit.

But she has an amazing voice in real life.

Why does Aunt Lydia have such a soft spot for Janine?

She treated her very unfairly, originally.

Took the ear.

I mean, ooh, I didn't take your ear.

Took her eye, and I think she regrets it.

And I think she comes to love Janine as her child.

How does Moira rebel?

The first thing I'm thinking of is

capturing that Aunt and taking off all of her clothes

and putting them on myself.

And then walking out of the Red Center,

just walking out because I'm an Aunt.

And then getting on a train and leaving

and then fighting from the outside

because that's what you do.

[Elisabeth giggling]

Who is the father of Serena's baby

in The Handmaid's Tale?

Well, it's Fred.

Who else would it be? Yeah.

I think there's theories.

So many theories that people think it's Mark.

Everyone wants it to be Mark, yes.

If it was Mark, we definitely would've shot that scene.

[everyone laughing]

That would not have been off camera.

Does Serena Joy like Offred?

Ooh!

Listen, I think she secretly wants a bestie.

Yeah.

And she's got nothing and no one.

So, yeah. But she like hates her too.

Okay, so she only likes June because she has no one else?

But she also secretly hates her?

That's absolutely not true.

It's complex.

Serena's obsessed with June.

She wants them to be best friends.

She wants her in her life. She wants her approval.

Wants her approval.

Definitely approval factor in this.

Offred does that to people. Don't you think?

She loves June.

Like Aunt Lydia has a love/hate with her.

Yeah. Well, that's more interesting, isn't it?

I mean, it's more interesting if there's complexity in it.

I'm not looking for a best friend or anything,

but I think there's tremendous respect for her courage

and her commitment and so on.

Yeah. Yeah.

Will Hannah and June ever be reunited?

You'll have to watch this show

and you'll have to watch the sequel

Yeah.

What happens to June's baby in The Handmaid's Tale?

Like the second one? Nicole?

How many babies do you got?

I don't know.

If they're referring to her as the baby,

it's probably Nicole.

Nicole. Yeah.

What happens to June's baby in the...

I mean, you have to watch the show.

Stop Googling the show. Watch the show.

Watch it.

I mean, I become her mother for a while.

Who is Aunt Lydia in The Handmaid's Tale?

Well, that's a terrifying question.

[everyone laughing]

I mean, she was a very strict Aunt to begin with.

And she's the head of the Aunts. She's no fool.

She does not want to be under anyone else.

The beautiful girls who she loves

gradually, I think, change her.

And you'll have to see how that happens,

but you'll see.

How did June and Moira first meet?

In college! We were college roommates.

Oh really?

I was going to ask you before, but then I was like-

Oh yeah, because-

Then I was like, just be confident. Say that, Samira.

Yeah. It's the answer now.

That's what it is.

What is the significance

of Moira in The Handmaid's Tale?

I think about when you find the Nolite

scratched into the door.

I'm not sure if it's that scene or whatever,

but you think about Moira.

June says something like,

What would Moira do in this situation?

And I've almost thought of them switching roles

a little bit during the course of it.

Like you becoming the badass that you are

and Moira following you in a way.

Oh, I like that.

I've always thought that the inspiration

for her being everything that she is was me.

Moira's very brave.

I mean, she really puts it out there in ways

that others aren't willing to, or able to.

Yeah, I do think that some of your,

I was going to say, Go get 'em-ness,

that is not what I mean.

[Elisabeth] It is now what you mean

Yeah, has come from the inspiration

of thinking about your friend.

But also I do think that being on the outside of Gilead

and Moira not being able to do anything,

that her spirit is kind of diminished a little bit.

That's a really good memory, though, because it is true.

Like in the beginning, Moira was June's inspiration.

Yeah.

Moira was stronger and braver and got out.

Yes. And now I do feel for Moira now

June is now her inspiration.

Yeah. Yeah.

Especially coming up.

What was Serena Joy's job before Gilead?

She wrote a book about women

and that she thought they should go home and have babies

and not do much else than that, really.

That was her job to inspire other women

to feel the same way as her.

Yeah, she's right.

What happened to Moira in The Handmaid's Tale?

If we're talking about Season One...

Are we're talking about...

I guess so.

She escapes.

She escapes and then she fights from the outside.

Does June ever get Hannah back?

I guess you're going to have to watch the show.

Yeah.

Spoiler Alert!

You're going to have to watch the sequel.

Oh my God, it's over. Thank God!

Thank you.

It's harder than making the show.

[Amanda laughing] [everyone clapping]

Yay everyone.

You're welcome.

Those are all of the questions.

Thank you for watching.

[digitized music]