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Joseph Fiennes praises the 'intelligent and timely' story of The Handmaid's Tale

The actor opens up about his latest role as Commander Fred in The Handmaid's Tale, how playing that character has helped sharpen his view on gender inequality and how it all relates to the current political landscape.
CBC Radio ·
Actor Joseph Fiennes poses for a portrait at the Village at the Lift Presented by McDonald's McCafe during the 2015 Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2015. (Getty Images)

Joseph Fiennes admits that he missed out on Margaret Atwood's classic novel, The Handmaid's Tale, when he was young because he was in the "throes of adolescence." But once he picked up the book, upon being offered the opportunity to star in a TV adaptation of it, he was immediately captivated.  

"The political world in America was very different than what it is now but, putting that aside, I thought it was a brilliant discourse on fundamentalism," Fiennes explains, referring to the months leading up to Donald Trump's presidency. "I just thought it was so intelligent and timely."

The Handmaid's Tale airs Sundays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. 

Head over to CBC Music to read more about The Handmaid's Tale in a piece called "How to soundtrack a TV show set in a world of silence."

— Produced by Elaine Chau

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