Ann Dowd Reveals the Surprising Downside of Shooting Her ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ Season 2 Finale Scene with Alexis Bledel
The contention between Aunt Lydia and Emily on The Handmaid’s Tale is palpable. In real life, however, Ann Dowd had an awfully hard time getting Alexis Bledel to lash out at her.
The Emmy winner revealed it was difficult to shoot the season two finale scene where Emily stabs Aunt Lydia and pushes her down a flight of stairs because Bledel was too “shy” and “reserved” to give Dowd a hearty nudge.
“There’s nothing in her that says ‘shove,’” Dowd joked during an interview with People. “A couple of times I just laughed out loud, and I said, ‘Sweet Alexis, if that’s your idea of a shove…You can just give me a [good push].’”
Even with Dowd’s encouragement, it still took some cajoling and coaching from stunt experts to help the wary Bledel rise to the occasion, but ultimately it was totally worth it. As the Gilead saying goes, blessed be the meek for they will inherit the world strength to push Aunt Lydia down the stairs.
Praise be.
RELATED: Gasp! Oprah Had a Cameo on ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ & You Probably Missed It