Samira Wiley sat down with The Knockturnal to discuss the fourth season of The Handmaid’s Tale and becoming a mother.
Samira, who plays Moira in the hit Hulu show, spoke about preparing for the role in a show with such intense subject matter and how she steps out of character once she gets home.
“Season 4 is a little easier than Season 1 in order to jump into this character and into this world that we’re in. Kind of letting go of Moira at the end of the day and putting Samira back on – it is an intentional process for me, I don’t want at the end of the day to bring Moira, Gilead, all of that home to my family. So there’s quietly sitting with myself and having a little practice of breathing and exhaling that world out so I don’t bring that home – and that’s taken four years to figure out.”
Samira said that for her it is much more difficult watching the show and its emotional subject matter than it is to physically film it.
“When I’m filming I’m so inside Moira and I can only see Moira’s perspective,” she said. “So I really don’t see anything else when I’m working. But when I’m able to step out of it and watch things back, there are so many other things that go into this show. There’s every other actors’ performance, there’s the cinematography, the writing of the entire show, the entire story that’s being told is coming at me. And that is exactly what we want people to experience and that’s a totally different experience to just being Moira. And that is a lot to take so bless all you guys who binge-watch this show! It’s a lot to take and a litter harder than to just film it.”
And Samira thinks that Hulu releasing new episodes week by week is for the audience’s well-being.
“I honestly think The Handmaid’s Tale should not be binge-watched,” she said. “I know there are people who do and God bless them. It is so much to sit and take in everything that this show is. I feel like every episode is a small film. and I think it’s doing us a great service if you take that time to take the week and digest what has just been given to you. I think it’s healthy and that’s just my recommendation!”
Samira is also adjusting to being a new mom after welcoming a daughter with her wife Lauren Morelli in April. She revealed the good news on Instagram just a few weeks ago.
“There are so many human emotions and I think I have experienced every single one of them in the last five weeks,” she said, gushing about her daughter George Elizabeth. “There are a few times where I thought I probably killed her, a few times when I’m like ‘why won’t you stop crying, I don’t understand you, George!’ then there are so many times when I’m full of complete bliss and joy. I cannot believe that I am this blessed to have this little girl who the other day I’m pretty sure smiled at me for the first time. I don’t think that one was gas, Kayla! I think it was an actual smile!”
The Handmaid’s Tale has been renewed by Hulu for Season 5, but Samira says she knows about as much about the plans as the rest of the world.
“I do not have any details! I know as much as you know and that is that there is going to be a Season 5 and I’m going to be in it! I can promise you that,” she said.
