‘The Handmaid’s Tale’: Ann Dowd on Aunt Lydia’s pivotal shift

This article contains spoilers for season 6, episode 8, from “The Handmaid’s Tale”.

when Margaret Atwood I started thinking Writing continuation For her iconic novel, “The Story of the Examinals”, she gave Bruce Miller, Consomered by Holo, “short menu not doing it”.

In addition to that list, the aunt Lydia, the cruel fanatic responsible for the maids, was played strongly Ann Dod.

The author had a cause of concern. This was somewhere at the end of the second season, when Emily (Alexis Blidel) stabbed the aunt at the back and pushed it down the stairs and “You don’t know if it would wake up,” Miller said.

Aunt Lydia escaped the attack, of course; She was a very crucial personality so that she could not lose her at that point. However, Miller said he did not know the long -term arc of the character at the time or “where I wanted to land specifically.”

when “Witnesses” It came out in 2019, it became clear that the aunt Lydia had to land not only on its feet but changed dramatically. In the novel, she is a major figure in the events that will finally lead to the destruction of Gilead.

It is almost unknown to receive a successful television adaptation of the unexpected leakage of original materials, it does not matter from a respectable novelist like Atwood, Midstream. “Certificates” do not enhance the story of Gilead and its inhabitants; It fills a lot of the background, especially those of Lydia’s aunt, which is a completely different character from the viewers who loved them for six seasons.

“It seems as if Shakespeare comes to life and writes” Hamlet II “or something like that,” Miller said. “But,” he said, “The backbone of the character did not change the personality. Aunt Lydia always believed in the ideals of Gilad, even when Glyid did not rise to that ideal. Gilead did not leave as much as Gilead left.”

This means that her journey throughout the remaining period of the series should be a journey of hesitant revelation, but it is unabated.

After years of attempting to work, publicly and secretly, within what she slowly recognized is an incomplete system, Lydia’s aunt is, by this last season, he remained the same as the previous one. She left her the weight of self -mandate (not to mention life in Gilead) from her shrinkage, and an emotional wreck until episode 8, which fell on Tuesday, when she finally surrendered to the truth.

Hunting her long enemy in June (Elizabeth Moss) Besides (Samira and Eli) While they are ready to launch maids on a night attack of rapists/leaders, the aunt must finally accept the horrific reality of its role in Gilead. It allows them to go to their reprisals and collapse on the ground.

“June and the aunt Lydia are now linked,” Dodd said. “Jun is very quiet, only” here is the story, and you know all that is going on. “The walls are completely collapsing, and [Lydia] Look at Janein [Madeline Brewer] – “Please, O God, forgive me, forgive me.”

It is a tremendous and risky axis of the character and the story; If the viewers do not believe this scene, they will be at great pressure to accept the aunt Lydia from “certificates”. However, as usual, writing and writing, especially Dowd, which makes the tectonic shift feel completely authentic and writing.

Miller said, “This is what Dodd is amazingly,” Miller said. “In order for the same character to be in essence, even when it is eliminated by change. She keeps the public very carefully so much that you do not even realize that some steps are a kind of crazy and complete left turns.”

Bruce Miller on the filming of Ann Dodd by Aunt Lydia in the “Story of the Meriders”: “She keeps the audience with great care so much that you do not realize that some steps are a kind of crazy leftist turns.”

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

Miller adapts the “certificates”, which recently started production in Canada, and the aunt Lydia is the only character, regardless of June, to move from “The Handmaid’s Tale”.

Her journey, in both novels and conditions on the screen, is a unique journey.

In the first Atwood novel, it is only found through the view of June and most often as a source of waves. “Aunt Lydia says,” She is a narration, which is alike to clarify the principles of Gillide and emphasize the paradox of religious dedication that is manifested in sexual slavery. Other aunts are described as carrying livestock and random violence, but the aunt is often speaking.

This is not the case in this series, in which it is presented as a speaker’s expression, yes, but also a brutal reservoir of a woman, threatening and concerning her regularly. Early in this series, Janine was punished at the time by removing her right eye. The attempt to kill Emily comes after the aunt forced her to have a clitoris eradication as a sexual traitor – gay.

“It begins as a wall, strong and long,” said Dod. “Certainly and self -lightning. She thinks she does the right thing exactly. She knows what she is doing, and although this may harm her construction, they must change. Her role is to help them and her way in helping them to implement strong and sometimes painful approaches.”

The 69 -year -old actress is a gentle soft woman, granted to treat those around her as “my love” and “a sweet girl”, who looks far from Lydia as much as a person can get while preserving the female shape.

“People asked me, how did you get to this place? Have you spent a lot of time reaching this dark place?” Dod said about the brutality of her personality. “The real answer is that I can’t get there quickly enough. I mean, this is a great role, beautifully written.”

Ann Dodd said: “People asked me, how did you get to this place? Have you spent a lot of time reaching this dark place?” “The real answer is that I can’t get there quickly enough. I mean, this is a great role, beautifully written.”

(Christina House / Los Angeles Times)

As an actor, DowD launched the filming of the black and white beliefs system in the early aunt of Diya-in those early days in the group, was walking between maid additives, and its livestock is transferred to offices and bark instructions. She said, “We did not keep this, but I liked to learn what to do Lydia if she could.

“Of course, we had a luxury leaving everything behind the group,” she added.

For Miller, the aunt did not really start, until he saw Dodd playing her. He said: “It is the wonderful feedback ring. You are writing very backups; it adds a lot, and the director adds a lot of what was different from what I expected.” “My aunt Lydia on the page is frightening but not scary like Ann. You want these comments so that you can continue to adjust the character.”

When Lydia started doubting, the role became more challenging. “But it will be very strange if it does not change. Fortunately, I love her. I have never gone out of it, and she always appreciated her journey,” said Dod.

Not that she saw that. Dod said that she did not see the show and only watched some episodes in various events.

She said, “I do not see her because I did that.” “I find that I completely criticized myself and I find it boring. I want to see the offer and enjoy it when the time comes. I don’t want to judge myself,” What were you thinking? “It takes you directly from the story.”

She also does not know exactly what is happening in a conclusion series, which Moss brought out. Dod said, “They revised her,” Dodd said. “I know my home, but there are big questions for me. I may see [Episode] 10; I would like to know how it ends. “

For Dowd, Lydia’s transformation ultimately depends on its deformation in Janine. She said: “From that point onwards, she feels responsible for it, and grows into a beautiful love.” “And what does love do? It collapses the wall.”

She is heading to the production of “certificates”, she had only read three texts and that the aunt Lydia is not in each of them; They focus on the members of the younger team.

“Change the aunt Lydia” in episode 8 is deep and permanent. “Her faith in God, the importance of this is still strong,” she said. “Without women, who can bring the children of God? Who will fill the world so that his divine presence can be hit? Only these girls. The role of women, as you think Lydia is to raise these children. But to rape by these leaders?” no. “

“Her faith in God, the importance of this is still strong. Without women, can they bring the children of God?” Ann Dod said about her personality, the aunt Lydia.

(Steve Wilki / Disney)

Dodd was pleased and surprised, the role of aunt that aunt plays in the Atwood supplement, such as “Handmaid’s”, is presented as a series of historical documents. I met atwood on several occasions, but she was not familiar with her thinking. “It is definitely a friendly relationship. You immediately accept that it is great and there is no way to find it.” “It’s beautiful and funny, and I enjoyed a lot to spend time with her.”

As for the Audiobook book for “The Ferments”, DowD read the Aunt Pide, which she said helped her understand the character deeper. “You learn Lydia very quickly what you should do,” said Dod. “She does not want any aunt to be; she wants to be the responsible aunt. She does not occupy a back seat.”

With the end of “The Handmaid’s Tale”, both Dowd and Miller are suspended between sadness and excitement. Although they will continue to work together, along with Moss and some crew, they already miss the “maid” crew.

“Many of them were part of a group,” Dod said. “I loved it. The first rule of Boss Miller was everyone with others. Lazy Moss, the focus of all this, the main character and the director – it’s great, was born to do this, love to work, a bright spirit, never tired.”

She also misses BreWer, with which she shared a lot of important scenes, and admires her ability to play a role with only one eye.

“My sweet daughter, we have a very friendly and warm relationship,” Dod said. “I don’t know how to withdraw it, in terms of balance.”

As for Miller, “Trantuents” provides two clear challenges: to rise to the “Handmaid’s Tale” success level and create a smooth transition between the two versions.

“There will be things that are not lined up, and this is the way you will be. It was initially very difficult, but I only thought” adapting the book, “Miller said. [Atwood] I loved what I was doing with the show, and I think that was involved in being excited to write more about it.

He said: “Now, I try to make” beautiful “interesting and interesting” testimonies “in its terrible and terrible way. I love the world a lot, and I work with Margaret, Lezi and the group of young women – I will make up the happiness of the next contract in writing things to say.”