The Handmaid's Tale cast: Meet the characters in season 6

"This is the season where our characters and the people of Gilead – and specifically the women of Gilead – have had enough," showrunner Yahlin Chang told TV Insider.

"They stand up and declare, 'No more.' They've been through trauma. They've been through hell. But they really find the strength in themselves to really take it to the man and to fight back.

"They're pushed to the limit, and they're going to rise up and rebel. So the theme is rebellion. We finally, finally get to full-scale rebellion."

Read more:

• The Handmaid's Tale recap: What you need to remember before season 6
• The Handmaid's Tale season 6: Release date, cast, plot, trailer and latest news

Elisabeth Moss once again leads the cast as June, alongside Yvonne Strahovski as Serena, Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence, Max Minghella as Nick and Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia, among others.

Find out more information about the rest of the cast below.

The Handmaid’s Tale cast

The season 6 cast is as follows:

• Elisabeth Moss as June Osborne
• Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford
• Bradley Whitford as Commander Lawrence
• Max Minghella as Nick
• Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia
• O-T Fagbenle as Luke
• Samira Wiley as Moira
• Madeline Brewer as Janine
• Amanda Brugel as Rita
• Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello
• Ever Carradine as Naomi Lawrence (née Putnam)
• Josh Charles as Commander Gabriel Wharton
• D'Arcy Carden as TBC

Read on for everything you need to know about the main characters and who plays them.

Elisabeth Moss plays June

Who is June? June is the main protagonist of The Handmaid's Tale and the story is largely told through her eyes. Her name was changed to 'Offred' when the authoritarian theocracy of Gilead staged its takeover of the United States of America and stripped her of her humanity. Before that, she was a book editor, mother and husband.

At the end of season 4, June murdered Commander Fred Waterford, finally escaped Gilead and became a free woman in Canada, but far from now living a quiet life, she's determined to bring the regime crashing down.

We last left her on a train heading to Alaska from Canada, which is beginning to succumb to anti-refugee sentiment.

Where have I seen Elisabeth Moss before? Moss's extensive credits include Mad Men, Us, The Veil, Shining Girls, Shirley, High-Rise, The Kitchen, Top of the Lake, The West Wing and The Invisible Man.

Yvonne Strahovski plays Serena Joy

Who is Serena Joy? Serena Joy was the wife of Commander Fred Waterford, who was eventually killed by June, the handmaid they subjected to ritualistic sex in an attempt to repopulate Gilead.

Before the Republic, she was a ‘televangelist’ who preached on-screen to try and get women to return to their traditional family roles. Despite being a key member of the team in the initial stages of the creation of Gilead, she was soon shut out of the government and repressed by the society she helped to create – a predicament that has made her miserable – so much so, in fact, that she helped to get June’s daughter Nichole out of Gilead at the end of season 2.

However, while she looked like a candidate for becoming a double agent in the fight against Gilead at the start of season 3, Serena soon began to regret her decision to get Nichole out of the country and turned against June.

In season 5, Serena gave birth to a son of her own, Noah, and in the finale, they both ended up on the same train travelling to Alaska from Canada.

Where have I seen Yvonne Strahovski before? You might know Strahovski from Chuck, Stateless, Dexter, Headland, The Predator and 24: Live Another Day.

Bradley Whitford plays Commander Lawrence

Who is Commander Lawrence? A high-ranking Gilead official. Lawrence is the architect of the regime. But despite his instrumental role, he has teamed up with June on a number of occasions to work against the very thing he created.

Where have I seen Bradley Whitford before? He's best known for The West Wing. His credits also include Get Out, Transparent, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, Saving Mr Banks, Trophy Wife and The Good Guys.

Max Minghella plays Nick

Who is Nick? Nick was first introduced as an Eye serving as The Commander and Serena Joy’s chauffeur in season 1. After Serena Joy insisted on him having sex with June in order to increase her chances of conceiving, the pair embarked on their own secret relationship. He is the father of June's daughter, Nichole, and there is still chemistry between them.

Where have I seen Max Minghella before? He previously appeared in The Mindy Project, The Internship and The Social Network.

Ann Dowd plays Aunt Lydia

Who is Aunt Lydia? The aunts are charged with training and disciplining handmaids. When they don’t comply, Lydia has been known to issue some pretty harsh punishments, including removing eyeballs and severing limbs. She is still reeling from the aftermath of June’s getaway in season 5 and is desperate to see her punished…

Where have I seen Ann Dowd before? Ann Dowd has previously starred in Garden State, Marley & Me, The Manchurian Candidate, Hereditary and Mass. She has also appeared in The Leftovers and Masters of Sex.

O-T Fagbenle plays Luke

Who is Luke? Before the Republic of Gilead was formed, Luke was the husband of June and the father of their daughter, Hannah.

When they first met, Luke was married to another woman, whom he divorced, but the new theocratic regime did not recognise divorce, forcing June and Luke to try and escape over the border to Canada. June and Hannah were caught trying to flee, but Luke managed to escape and is now living as a refugee in Canada.

At the end of season 4, June managed to escape to Canada and reunite with Luke, but the distance and trauma that has formed between them, not to mention Nick, has left their relationship in an uncertain place.

In the last season, Luke was arrested after he killed a man who tried to attack June.

Where have I seen O-T Fagbenle before? He has previously starred in No Good Deed, Presumed Innocent, The First Lady, Black Widow, FM, Material Girl, Quick Cuts, Looking, The Interceptor and The Five.

Samira Wiley plays Moira

Who is Moira? June's best friend. An opinionated and feminist lesbian, Moira is one of the few women who stands up to authority directly from the start and makes two escape attempts, one successful, from Gilead. She is now living in Canada.

Where have I seen Samira Wiley before? Samira Wiley is best known for Orange Is the New Black. She also appeared in You're the Worst.

Madeline Brewer plays Janine

Who is Janine? A handmaid. She gave birth to a daughter, who was then taken from her and given to Commander Putnam and his wife. In the last season, she was stationed in Commander Lawrence's household, but was taken away by the Eyes for her insubordination. Aunt Lydia has always had a soft spot for Janine, but has no qualms about keeping her in check.

Where have I seen Madeline Brewer before? Her CV includes Cam, Orange Is the New Black, Hemlock Grove and The Deleted.

Amanda Brugel as Rita

Who is Rita? A 'Martha' who was initially assigned to Commander Waterford's household. Alongside June and a number of other rebels, she helped a large group of children to flee Gilead for Canada, where she is now also living.

Where have I seen Amanda Brugel before? You might recognise her from Kim's Convenience, Seed and Dark Matter.

Sam Jaeger plays Mark Tuello

Who is Mark Tuello? A US federal agent who was trying to recruit Serena in the fight against Gilead.

Where have I seen Sam Jaeger before? His credits include Parenthood, Eli Stone, Wolf Man, Devil in Ohio, The Eyes of Tammy Faye, Why Women Kill, Law & Order True Crime and Tell Me a Story.

Ever Carradine plays Naomi Lawrence

Who is Naomi Lawrence? She was married to Commander Putnam, but has since been partnered with Commander Lawrence. She is the adoptive mother of Janine's daughter.

Where have I seen Ever Carradine before? She's also appeared in Runaways, Major Crimes, Commander in Chief, Conrad Bloom, and Once and Again.

Josh Charles plays Commander Gabriel Wharton

Who is Commander Gabriel Wharton? Nick's father-in-law. He doesn't trust his daughter's husband.

Where have I seen Josh Charles before? You might know him from The Good Wife, Dead Poets Society, Sports Night, SWAT and We Own This City.

D'Arcy Carden plays TBC

Where have I seen D'Arcy Carden before? She's best known for The Good Place. You might also have watched her in Barry and Nobody Wants This.

The Handmaid's Tale airs on Channel 4 and Prime Video in the UK – you can sign up now for a free 30-day Prime Video trial.

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