Elisabeth Moss: Who Is The Handmaid’s Tale Star?
Playing June in the Hulu series, the Handmaid’s Tale, Elisabeth Moss is enjoying the peak of her career but who is the actress behind the scenes?
From initially wanting to become a dancer to her first appearance on screen at just eight year’s old, the actress was destined for a career in the limelight in one area or another.
Brimming with success, the actress has managed to bag Golden Globes and an Emmy for her work on Top of the Lake and The Handmaid’s Tale. And now that the Kardashian‘s are off the air, we’ll be needing something dramatic to watch.
So, just who is Elisabeth Moss behind the scenes?
Nolite Te Bastardes Carborundorum.
Image Source/Instagram
She Was Homeschooled
Actress, Elisabeth Moss, was homeschooled by a private tutor and it certainly worked out well for her as she graduated two years early!
Moss’s parents are big musicians with her mum being a harmonica player in a blues band and her dad a music manager who was often on tour with his clients.
So she grew up in a very musical household. Moss, remembering her childhood, Moss said:
“We grew up with musicians coming over, jamming.
“We had tons of instruments. So holidays were always like, 50 people would come over and there would be a jam session with everyone playing jazz.
“My earliest memories are at the Blue Note here in New York, or backstage at different theatres or different clubs, dressing rooms.”
She Was Eight When She Got Her First Acting Role
It was in a TV film called Bar Girls. Then, when she was a teenager, she landed the role of a lifetime in West Wing.
Elisabeth has explained how she didn’t have a rebellious period as a teenager and attributes that to her busy schedule. She said:
“I didn’t really have a rebellious period because I moved to New York when I was 18, and I started West Wing when I was 17.”
She also had a role in 1999 in Girl Interrupted, alongside Angelina Jolie but her true breakout role was yet to come.
She Is In The Church Of Scientology
Far from a secret uncovered, it is actually common knowledge that Elisabeth Moss is part of the church of Scientology.
The actress, rather than deciding to join in later life, actually grew up as part of the church and claims that it shaped her into who she is today.
Her religion is as controversial as Katie Hopkins and often the source of debate within the media as many claim that the religion and advocating progression and women’s rights – as Moss does – do not go hand in hand.
A source divulged:
“Elisabeth is a devout member who was born into this religion and would never do anything to rock the boat.
“She’s a role model within the church…”
Image Source/Instagram
Elisabeth has explained that she looks to her church for guidance:
“One of the most important things I take from my church is the idea of personal freedom and our rights as human beings, and that includes the right to date a man or a woman.
“Personal freedom is a very important concept in my religion, and I translate that to sexual orientation.”
Her Breakout Role Was In Mad Men
Portraying the role of Peggy Olson, Elisabeth Moss burst on the scene in the popular TV series Mad Men.
Elisabeth said of the role:
“I just felt like I knew that girl.
“I felt like I could see Peggy. She was the unwitting feminist, the one that wasn’t burning bras or marching, who didn’t know the phrase glass ceiling but was banging her head up against it.”
Since then, the actress has continued to have major roles in TV shows and films from Top of the Lake to The Invisible Man.
Image Source/Instagram
Playing June in the dystopian drama The Handmaid’s Tale, Elisabeth explained:
“When you’re kneeling on the steps in front of the Lincoln Memorial, you’re looking at where MLK gave his ‘I Have a Dream’ speech, you’re in the outfit of complete lack of freedom, and your president is a few blocks away arguing about putting up a wall, you can’t help but feel that you have the responsibility to tell this story.”
Who Is Her Partner?
Back in 2009, Elisabeth married Fred Armisen, a Saturday Night Live comedian. However, the two separated a year after tying the knot.
The actress spoke about the experience saying:
“God, I learned so much that I am still sifting through it.
“I was young. I was 27, and certainly I am still young, but now, looking back, six years ago, it seems young.
“With time, I think, you learn who you are, and what you need.”
