ELISABETH MOSS
ACTRESS ELISABETH MOSS TALKS ABOUT HOW SHE’S KEEPING BUSY IN LOCKDOWN AND HER BIGGEST FEARS
When the coronavirus pandemic forced us all into lockdown, everything came grinding to a halt, including production of the eagerly anticipated fourth season of The Handmaid’s Tale.
With a strict set of new measures in place, including wearing a face mask on public transport, many people drew similarities between the current crisis and the show’s depiction of a dark dystopian society.
And leading star Elisabeth Moss believes The Handmaid’s Tale, which is based on the 1985 book by Margaret Atwood, is even more timely than we realise. “Politically, it is very relevant to today,” she said. “Our rights in this country, and all over the world, have been threatened on so many levels.”
With filming on hold, Elisabeth has been in lockdown in New York with her two beloved cats Ethel Mertz and Lucy Mcgillicuddy, and keeping busy and creative with Zoom calls.
The star first rose to fame in 2007 as Peggy Olson in Mad Men and, thanks to the show’s success, she recently teased that the cast could be set for a virtual reunion.
“Maybe we have had some discussions about this. I don’t think I’m in a position to officially share anything. But yes, we are aware that people are doing reunions and we’ve never done one, which is so crazy,” she said.
Here, the 37-year-old actress discusses adjusting to the new normal, her hopes for getting back on track and the things that really scare her...
You’re currently at home in New York. How have you coped during lockdown?
Honestly, I’ve been doing okay. Everyone in my family is here. My friends are safe and healthy, so I’m very much in a place of not feeling any right to complain. If I have to stay home to keep others safe, then that’s fine with me. On the mental side of things, I just try to keep some perspective on life. There are people that are having a much rougher time; people who unfortunately have had people who they love get sick or perhaps they’ve even lost them.
How have you been filling your time?
I’ve been reading a lot and watching a lot of stuff. Plus, I’ve basically been a fulltime producer for the past three months. That’s what I do now, I produce. It’s been really interesting to do that full-time. I’ve had a lot of Zoom meetings and a lot of business calls. I’ve been working on the development of a number of projects.
I’ve been keeping myself busy that way. Personally, I miss acting and I want to get back on set as soon as it’s safe to do so – but I’ve been trying to keep myself creatively fulfilled as much as possible.
You have two cats at home. Have they helped keep you company?
Of course. My cats, Ethel Mertz and Lucy Mcgillicuddy, think Mum is out of a job and are very concerned about whether or not she’s going to be able to supply food for the house.
Quarantine is a great time for selfreflection. Have you realised anything about yourself?
Yeah, I’m sure that there is a lot I need to work on in my life. [Laughs] To be honest, I hope that we are always trying to work on ourselves and become better people. I think this has been a really interesting time for everyone. As well as being more aware of what’s going on around you and being more aware of other people, both globally and socially, we are all coming together on a lot of things.
Filming for The Handmaid’s Tale has been delayed. Will we still get a fourth season?
There will be a fourth season, yes.
What do you think makes the show such a success?
The Handmaid’s Tale is essentially a story of a woman and survival – a mother and a wife, a human, a friend, a sister. It’s about somebody who is just like us. She might wear a cape, but she has no super power. She’s just a real person and she’s put in extraordinary circumstances where she is asked to survive for her daughter, for her family and for the people around her. I think that these are very universal ideas that we can all connect with. Politically, it is very relevant to today. Our rights in this country, and all over the world, have been threatened on so many levels. And it’s not just women. I think it’s about all people really. I feel honoured to see everyone really connect to the story and to the idea of a woman who’s fighting against a patriarchy, but also fighting against the violation of human rights. It’s a story that I value very much. I connect with it in the same way that I believe the audience does. I think it’s very special and very powerful.
How much more work is there to be done for equality?
I think it’s ongoing, and it should be ongoing. There’s a lot of work to be done. Our rights are being threatened and we are in peril, in that sense. It’s time to take things seriously. As long as we can keep the conversation open, as long as we can keep talking and as long as we still have the right to protest, then I think we can hopefully get to a better place. It’s important to talk about things and express our opinions.
I was raised to believe in myself. I was raised to believe that I should have a voice, and that I have a place. I was raised to believe that my voice is as important and relevant as anyone else’s. In a way, I suppose I’m good at fighting back if I need to. I think you always find strength physically and mentally when you need it.
You’re not a stranger to horror, with recent roles in The Invisible Man and Us. In your new movie Shirley, your character is an author of horror stories. Do you enjoy the genre?
I have a very high tolerance for dark material and am not easily frightened. I love horror. I love scary movies. I always have, ever since I was little. When I was 11 or 12, me and my girlfriends from ballet school used to get together and have sleepovers. We would watch all the scary movies – It, Poltergeist, Halloween, Nightmare On Elm Street and The Shining. I guess I’ve never been too afraid to watch them.
What scares you in real life?
Speaking publicly, especially at big events. Silence frightens me, too. I’m a city girl, so I’m not used to silence. I would be terrified if you put me in a country home by myself, surrounded by woods and silence. And water, I’m afraid of deep water. Also, something you can’t see – an invisible presence or an invisible threat is terrifying because you’re just powerless. I could go on and on…
‘i have a very high tolerance for dark material’