In an exclusive interview with Black Girl Nerds, the young cast of The Testaments opened up about stepping into the complex, often harrowing world of Gilead, navigating their characters, and the guidance they received from series veterans.
The Testaments, a dramatic evolution of The Handmaid’s Tale, follows the lives of Agnes, a dutiful and pious teen, and Daisy, a newcomer and convert from beyond Gilead’s borders. Set against the backdrop of Aunt Lydia’s elite preparatory school for future wives, the series explores the intense pressures of obedience, the bonds of friendship, and the ways young women resist and reshape their world.
When asked about parallels between their own lives and Agnes’s experiences in Gilead, Chase Infiniti explained, “The common thing that I think me and Agnes have, which I hope we would, is I really try to lead in life with kindness and with love in general, and I think that’s something Agnes does, especially with her friends.”
Lucy Halliday shared her experience working alongside Elisabeth Moss, noting the veteran actress’s guidance was more about reassurance than instruction. “She reassured both of us upon entering this world and stepping into these characters that we were doing okay and that we weren’t going to screw up an already beloved world. She gave us the space to make these characters our own,” Halliday said.
For Mattea Conforti, who plays Becka, building a strong foundation for her character was essential. “I had such a brilliant time filming with Elisabeth, and I felt like I was just trying to soak up every moment with her. She was such a source of information and support,” she said.
Rowan Blanchard reflected on the excitement of joining a new ensemble cast. “It’s so fun to get the freedom to develop our characters, even though they are based on characters in a book. You learn who your character is by doing scenes and seeing how other people play theirs. That process was just so fun,” she said, speaking about her role as Shulamite.
The young ensemble, including Chase Infiniti, Lucy Halliday, Mattea Conforti, Rowan Blanchard, Zarrin Darnell-Martin, Eva Foote, Isolde Ardies, Shechinah Mpumlwana, Birva Pandya, and Kira Guloien, bring fresh energy and perspective to the intense and rigid world of Gilead, building on the legacy of The Handmaid’s Tale while exploring themes of friendship, courage, and self-discovery.
With guidance from Ann Dowd, Amy Seimetz, and Brad Alexander, the series balances the weight of its source material with the freedom to explore new stories and characters, making The Testaments both a continuation and a reinvention of Gilead’s universe.
The series premieres April 8th on Hulu with three episodes, followed by new episodes every Wednesday through May 27.
