Ann Dowd explores Aunt Lydia’s backstory in The Testaments episode Stadium

9 articles · Updated · The Daily Beast · Apr 29

Dowd, 70, shared her reaction on Obsessed: The Podcast after reading the script for the sixth episode, now streaming on Hulu.
The episode reveals Aunt Lydia’s rise to power through a flashback, including a pivotal scene where she must shoot a former colleague to prove loyalty to the regime.
Dowd emphasized the distinction between herself and her intense character, reflecting on the show’s real-world relevance and its origins following Trump’s 2017 inauguration. The Testaments streams weekly on Hulu and Disney+.

As a self-described 'softie,' how does Ann Dowd emotionally prepare for her Emmy-winning role?

How does Aunt Lydia's brutal origin story reframe her potential for redemption in 'The Testaments'?

What historical events inspired Aunt Lydia's specific path to power through collaboration and betrayal?

With Mayday portrayed as incompetent, can Lydia's internal resistance actually succeed against Gilead?

Will 'The Testaments' justify its major plot deviations from Margaret Atwood's award-winning novel?

How does the real Gilead Sciences navigate sharing its name with a famous fictional dystopia?