For five seasons, The Handmaid’s Tale has captivated audiences with its unflinching vision of a theocratic Gilead. This complete guide details the actors and their roles across all seasons, from Elisabeth Moss’s June to Yvonne Strahovski’s Serena Joy, with career milestones and a look ahead to the final season.

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Number of seasons: 5 (as of 2024) TV Guide · Number of episodes: 56 (as of season 5) TV Guide · Original network: Hulu · Main cast members (season 1): 8 Rotten Tomatoes · Primetime Emmy Awards won: 14 Emmys

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Elisabeth Moss stars as June Osborne in all seasons (Radio Times)
  • Yvonne Strahovski plays Serena Joy Waterford (Radio Times) (Radio Times)
  • The series has been renewed for a sixth and final season (TV Guide) (Radio Times)
2What’s unclear
  • Exact release date of season 6 is not announced
  • Whether any main cast will not return for the final season is unconfirmed
  • Specific plot details for the final season are not yet known
3Timeline signal
  • Season 6 (final season) confirmed by Hulu, expected 2025 (TV Guide)
4What’s next
  • The final season is in development; cast announcements pending

Six key facts define the series at a glance:

Fact Value
Show Creator Bruce Miller (Radio Times)
Network Hulu
First Episode Date April 26, 2017 (TV Guide)
Final Episode Date TBD (Season 6 expected 2025) (TV Guide)
Based on Novel by Margaret Atwood (1985) Wikipedia
Number of Episodes 56 (as of season 5) (TV Guide)

Why did The Handmaid’s Tale get banned?

The series has been banned in several countries due to its political and sexual content. China and Saudi Arabia blocked the show, citing themes of oppression and sexual violence that clashed with local censorship laws (Wikipedia).

Which countries banned the show?

  • China – pulled from streaming platforms in 2017 (Wikipedia)
  • Saudi Arabia – blocked for sexual content and anti-religious portrayal (Wikipedia)

What was the official reason?

Government authorities in these countries cited “political imagery” and “sexual violence” as grounds for removal. Margaret Atwood’s 1985 novel also faced bans in some school districts in the United States for its explicit content (Wikipedia).

Bottom line: The Handmaid’s Tale’s global reach was limited by censorship in authoritarian states, but its banned status has only fueled the cultural relevance of its cast, including Elisabeth Moss, as icons of defiance.

The pattern: Bans have historically amplified interest in the series.

What do Handmaids do all day?

Handmaids are assigned to Commanders’ households for one purpose: reproduction. Their days are structured around domestic chores and the monthly Ceremony, a ritualized rape sanctioned by the state.

What are Handmaids’ chores?

  • Shopping for household supplies – a rare opportunity to interact with other Handmaids (Collider)
  • Cleaning and menial tasks – stripped of any intellectual work (Collider)

What is the Ceremony?

Once a month, the Commander and his Wife stage a forced sexual act with the Handmaid while the Wife holds her