The Testaments is Margaret Atwood’s sequel novel to The Handmaid’s Tale, which is released for fans to read today (September 10). The dramatic new novel has a number of implications for the much-followed television series, especially given the twist it inflicts on Aunt Lydia. Here’s what actor Ann Dowd revealed about how the novel will overhaul how she approaches the character in season four.
Will Aunt Lydia see major twist in The Handmaid’s Tale season 4?
The Testaments is released today as the follow-up to Margaret Atwood’s much acclaimed 1985 novel The Handmaid’s Tale.
The new book takes place 15 years after the events of the first novel as the republic of Gilead begins to crumble.
However, instead of focusing on the perspective of June Obsorne as the first novel did, the new book tells the story from the perspective of three women.
These are June’s two grown-up daughters, Nicole and Agnes Jemima, as well as Aunt Lydia.
READ MORE: Handmaid’s Tale: Has The Testaments changed the show’s ending?
Fans will know that the character is one of the most prolific members of the regime in charge of the Handmaids.
She has also gone on to become a major character in the television series on Hulu.
Portrayed by Ann Dowd, Aunt Lydia had a tumultuous third season as more about her backstory was revealed.
During the season it was shown that she was a teacher before the birth of Gilead and a moment of sexual rejection pushed her to adopt the hardline views of the dystopian republic.
Now, it has been revealed in the new book by Atwood that Aunt Lydia is an older and more weary character.
In a new interview about the novel, Dowd revealed to TIME Magazine about it will affect how she plays the character.
When asked, she explained: “Yes, I do. Because it gives a clear indication from the creator of this story of where she will end up and what will happen.
“And that affects the approach in terms of where her mind is going. She’s very savvy, very much a player and knows the politics.
“She’s always thinking, always planning, always assessing. In the end of the last season, you know we’re in trouble, because how many of those young girls got out?
“That is a massive, massive catastrophe, and the fact that Lydia was not onto it in a meaningful way — she’s got some work to do.”
The actor also spoke to Stylist magazine about how thrilled she was to learn more about the character and where she will go in the future.
She explained: “When you play a character, you often think, ‘I wonder what happens in the future? I wonder where she will go?’, but most of the time you don’t know.
“The book ends, the script is finished, the series is over. So to get a glimpse into where this character goes was a particular thrill.”
Dowd was one of the first people to be able to read the new novel before it was released as she voiced the audio book.
The actor also hinted to the publication that more will be revealed about Lydia’s back story in the new novel about how she decided to sign on for Gilead.
She revealed: “I somehow thought of her as a huge believer – someone who met for the early meetings of Gilead, and was right there in the front row ready to jump in.
“But that’s not the case. And when you see the vulnerability of this person, some of the walls fall away.”
All this hints that in the immediate upcoming seasons of The Handmaid’s Tale, aspects of Lydia’s future characterisation will be drawn upon.
And given the news that MGM and Hulu are already working to adapt the novel for TV, it’s likely that viewers will this new version of the character at some point in the future.
The Handmaid’s Tale season 3 is currently available to stream on Hulu.
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