ON HER ROLE IN THE ADAPTATION OF ATWOOD’S NOVEL
ALEXIS BLEDEL
You’re not in Connecticut anymore, Rory.
For Alexis Bledel, it’s a big leap from the idealized childhood of Stars Hollow to the bleak reality envisioned in Margaret Atwood’s Republic of Gilead.
Getting a bad cup of joe from Luke’s Diner would constitute a bad day for Rory on Gilmore Girls. But Bledel is playing a concubine in the TV series adapted from the critically acclaimed 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale.
In Gilead, women are essentially slaves to men and used for childrearing in a totalitarian state.
The Star talked with Bledel about her role in the series and also those famous last four words in the finale of Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.
What were your thoughts when you read the book for the first time?
I loved it. I wasn’t familiar with Margaret Atwood’s work. I was never assigned to read it in school, but I was just blown away by the ending of the book. It was also my guidebook . . . to the character. It was very useful to fill in little details . . . pick up little details about the way of life of the handmaids that I could apply to the work.
Ofglen is one of the most intriguing, multi-dimensional characters in the series. I imagine that she must have been challenging to play. What about her could you relate to?
She’s an incredibly complex character. She has a fighting spirit, which I love. I think she’s really inspiring and just so multi-layered. I mean it’s just an absolute dream job for an actor.
Given the current political climate, do you think the work still has lessons for today?
I think Margaret Atwood’s work is timeless and relevant at any period. Yeah, especially at this moment in time, I have no doubt that this work will spur many, many conversations, especially about human rights and women’s issues.
Margaret Atwood had dinner with the cast in Toronto. Did she give you any words of advice?
I actually didn’t get a chance to talk to her. I wanted to, but I didn’t want to monopolize her time . . . There were many people up higher than me that she was talking to. I was excited to meet her and I hope that I get the chance to ask her more questions that I can think about.
You were in the Toronto area quite a bit. What was it like shooting around there?
It was amazing! We were always shooting on a body of water and in a community where there was, like, a marina. It was very beautiful. And there were many days where we’d drive to Cambridge, about an hour and a half outside the city for outdoor scenes. In Toronto I was staying in a shopping district, so I shopped quite a bit. But, no, I didn’t get a chance to really explore.
Was that in Yorkville?
(Laughing) Yes, I would stay there. But I was very focused on work and home when I was there, so I didn’t get a chance to explore the city much. There was one really fun day I remember where they closed the streets and there were no cars, they had musicians . . . that was nice.
I would be remiss if I didn’t ask about Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life. Those last four words when Rory tells her mom she’s pregnant practically broke Twitter.
I was really surprised myself. It wasn’t what I expected at all.
When you finally said those words. What were your thoughts. Brilliant ending or something else?
I think it brought the story full circle. I think that’s what Amy (ShermanPalladino) wanted to do.
So were you happy with that? You don’t sound sold on how things ended.
I didn’t really judge it, I sort of just deferred to (creators) Amy and Dan and their vision. They have complete ownership of the story and I don’t have any input. Really, I mean I can share my opinions certainly, but they write everything. At the end of the day, you know it was my job, and I had to imagine how my character would get there and have those feelings. But personally I want to see Rory excel and have a rich and full life, just as much as any of the fans.