Elisabeth Moss recently opened up about her decision to take on the iconic role of June Osborne in Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale, revealing that she initially turned it down—twice.
In a candid conversation on The Jennifer Hudson Show, the Mad Men alum shared that she wasn’t sure if she was ready to commit to another long-term television role at the time the offer first came in. “I wasn’t quite sure if I was ready to make that commitment again, so I actually passed the first time they offered it to me,” she explained.
However, Moss revealed that what truly changed her mind was discovering who the producers were planning to offer the role to next. “They very nicely offered it again… and then they leaked it to me—obviously on purpose—who they were going to offer it to if I didn’t take it,” she said. “And I was like, ‘Over my dead body.’”
While Moss didn’t name the actress in question, she admitted that the thought of someone else playing the lead character pushed her to realize how much she truly wanted the role. “I couldn’t stand the idea of anyone else playing that role. That’s when I knew how badly I wanted to do it,” she confessed.
Speaking previously with The Times, Moss emphasized her commitment to portraying strong, realistic female characters. “I always try to make my characters end up being heroines and representing feminism,” she shared.
She added that her focus has always been on making her characters relatable and grounded. “Whether it’s representing a woman in the workplace or a mother, I try to make them real. They’re just like you and me—not perfect, not special. We’re women and we’re human.”
Since taking on the role, Moss has garnered critical acclaim and multiple awards, solidifying The Handmaid’s Tale as a defining chapter in her career.
