At its core, The Handmaid’s Tale is more than just a dystopian thriller—it’s a deeply emotional story of a mother’s relentless fight for her child. Elisabeth Moss, who plays June Osborne, has embodied that struggle since the show’s beginning. June’s firstborn was torn away from her during the rise of Gilead, a totalitarian regime that enslaves women and forces them into childbearing for the ruling elite. But her unwavering determination to reunite with her daughter fuels her rebellion.
Now, as Moss steps into the sixth and final season, her personal journey as a new mother adds a whole new layer to her performance. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Moss—who welcomed her first child in 2024—shared how profoundly the experience shaped her approach to June.
“I’m playing this character who is an iconic mother figure,” she said. “All mothers are heroines, and she’s definitely a heroine.” She described the “synergy” between her real-life motherhood and her character’s journey, making the role feel more emotionally intense than ever before.
Filming the final season while being a mom herself gave Moss a more visceral understanding of June’s pain, love, and relentless fight for justice. “I’m really happy that I got to have that experience,” she reflected.
On March 26, Moss made her first public appearance since giving birth at PaleyFest LA. She revealed to fans that her newborn—whose name and gender remain private—was even on set during filming, an experience she feels incredibly “fortunate” to have had.
As The Handmaid’s Tale prepares to close out its Emmy-winning run, June Osborne’s final rebellion will be the most personal yet. The long-awaited season 6 is set to premiere on April 8, 2025, bringing June’s journey—and her fight to reclaim her daughter—to an unforgettable conclusion.
