Stars of Hulu's 'The Testaments' talk about new series

[0:00] It's the next chapter of the storied Handmaid's Tale series, The Testaments, is a coming-of-age [0:05] story that finds a new generation of young women in Gilead grappling with the bleak future [0:11] that awaits them. Our Ike Ajachi sits down with stars Chase Infinity and Lucy Halliday [0:16] to talk about the power of young women standing up for what's right, and most of all, the [0:22] hope still lingering in this upcoming spinoff. [0:25] Very, very cute hair. Thanks. [0:31] Yours, too. [0:31] My socks, I look like I have a bad head. [0:34] Back then, we still believed in this world. I guess it's easier to accept a story than [0:42] believe that the people around you are monsters. [0:46] We gather here tonight to bring women back to their rightful place. [0:53] We had no idea what we were capable of. [0:56] Lucy Halliday, Chase Infinity, welcome. Welcome, welcome, welcome. [1:03] Thank you. [1:03] All right, we're getting right into it. The Testaments. Obviously, it's set in the same world as The Handmaid's Tale, but it's years later. [1:08] Obviously, it's a sequel, but it kind of feels like its own story. [1:12] Yeah. I think the best way to describe it is it's a coming-of-age story for this new generation of Gilead, for these girls who are the daughters of high-ranking commanders. So you're kind of seeing the nobility life of Gilead, in a sense. [1:24] Daisy may be joining your class. [1:28] She's going to be a plum? [1:30] Perhaps. I'd like you to show her around, make her feel comfortable. [1:35] The thing I love about this, you guys are co-leads in this series, right? [1:39] And meeting each other is actually what triggers this. [1:42] Yeah. Both Daisy and Agnes are very similar people, but they will refuse to admit that. [1:47] And I think I've often described them at the very beginning as being two cats in a room, sniffing each other out. [1:53] Because they know there's something going on with the other one, but they don't want to admit it to themselves. [1:57] But it's actually their progression through the season where their walls dissipate and they realize their similarities and their friendship grows, that they actually grow as people. [2:07] Right. And another thing, these characters are very young. [2:10] Yeah. [2:11] So what is that like, playing teenagers that, I guess, go through this transition throughout the show? [2:16] It was a lot of fun to get to tap back into that and feel the excitement, the anxiety, and just the nerves of being a 14-year-old. [2:25] And all the things that are kind of universal about growing up. [2:29] Your friends, having a first crush, going through puberty, and big emotions. [2:34] And then also our entire cast of girls who are with us as well. [2:37] It just felt so natural going back into it with them because we all were so close. [2:42] And we would get together and it really felt like we were in high school together. [2:46] Right, right. And the thing I love about this show, too, is that it's very heavy. [2:50] Yeah. [2:50] You know, Agnes and Daisy, they're very complex characters. [2:53] How did you guys support each other? [2:55] We're very fortunate that the atmosphere we had on set with the cast and crew was one of levity and one of support. [3:01] And I think that really allowed us to reach the potential of those intense scenes and to really give it our all. [3:08] I imagine Canada is very different from Gilead. [3:11] Toronto has been forsaken by God and defiled by Satan. [3:16] It is suffocating in sin. [3:19] This is a phenomenal time in your careers. [3:22] Lucy, this is your breakout role here. [3:23] Obviously, Chase, you're coming off a massive year with one battle after another. [3:27] What does it feel like to be able to carry the torch for a show like The Handmaid's Tale? [3:32] You know, I think we both coming into it felt a weight of responsibility because The Handmaid's Tale was so prolific and important. [3:39] And so we felt that weight. [3:40] But we were very fortunate to be afforded so many individuals who worked in The Handmaid's Tale. [3:45] We had, you know, Elizabeth Moss, Mike Barker, Bruce Miller, Anne Dowd. [3:48] All these people who gave us the space to step into these characters and reassured us in stepping into this world. [3:54] Yeah, I think on top of that, like, we both just feel incredibly blessed to be part of something that is almost bigger than you. [4:00] And really can speak to a large group of people and can connect people. [4:06] I've changed ever since she's been around. [4:08] Can't that be a good thing? [4:10] Why is everybody being so touchy? [4:14] Here's what we want. [4:17] This is our whole lives. [4:19] There comes a time when you have to take action. [4:22] The show has a very powerful subtext to it. [4:26] And how important is it for The Testaments to come out at a time like this? [4:30] The Testaments was never supposed to be a documentary. [4:33] It wasn't, you know, when Margaret Atwood wrote The Handmaid's Tale and then subsequently The Testaments. [4:36] They were all based on historical events that happened. [4:39] None of it was meant to be, you know, a current real-time unfolding of events. [4:43] And so it's unfortunate that that's the way it's unfolded, is that actually it is a mirror to society. [4:49] And I think that allows the impact to be even greater because I hope people watch it and I hope they are shocked. [4:55] Because, yes, it's entertaining. [4:57] Yes, there's a message of hope in this show. [4:59] But I hope people are shocked because we should never become desensitized to scenes of this nature. [5:04] And we should never be comfortable with it. [5:06] So I think it's timely and I hope people feel that. [5:09] Yeah, I think on top of that, I would love for people to not lose the hope. [5:14] There's hope in the show. [5:15] There's hope in real life as well. [5:17] And that is a point that I hope that people take away from the show as well as never losing the confidence in your own voice. [5:25] Were you fans of The Handmaid's Tale before this? [5:28] You have the biggest Margaret Atwood fan right here. [5:29] I was an incredible Margaret Atwood fan growing up. [5:34] Yeah, I was a massive fan and getting to be a part of the world is nothing short of magical. [5:39] Lucy Alliday, Chase, Infinity. [5:40] Thank you so much. [5:42] It was time for us to change things.