The Handmaid’s Tale’s Yvonne Strahovski joins the Water Cooler to discuss Serena Joy’s complex relationships with the Commander and Offred as well as her moments in the spotlight.
Yvonne Strahovski still considers her The Handmaid’s Talecharacter, Serena Joy, a villain. Granted, she a villain with tremendous Season 2 complexity and growth. But she’s still a villain. She still had a hand in designing Gilead. And she continues to uphold its traditions. It’s this beautiful complexity that Strahovski loves to explore over Season 2.
“I think what’s interesting to see is that she is that kind of villain that’s being challenged now,” Strahovski remarked over the phone. “There are so many things this season that confront her and challenge her to do the right thing.”
It’s that fascinating dichotomy within the character that piques our interest. But it’s Strahovski’s brilliant portrayal of Serena Joy that keeps viewers coming back week after week. Given the repression of the character, Strahovski doesn’t often get the opportunity to let loose. She offers an ocean of emotion all balled up into a tight, tense persona. Her subtlety and grace as Serena Joy emerges as one of the greatest supporting performances on television this year, making her a sure-fire Emmy contender.
Here at the Water Cooler, Yvonne Strahovski dives into her Season 2 experiences. She elaborates on Serena Joy’s increasingly tortured relationship with her husband, Commander Waterford (Joseph Fiennes). She also gushes over her favorite aspect of the season, the complex hate/love/hate relationship with Offred (Elisabeth Moss).
Have a listen and May the Lord Open to an Emmy nomination for Yvonne Strahovski!
