On April 8, 2025, Hulu released the first three episodes of the finale season of THE HANDMAID’S TALE. It’s the start of the end for the dystopian series that has been making people crazy since 2017. The sixth and final season of the show has only ten episodes, but it promises to have a lot at stake and make you feel a lot. However, Elisabeth Moss, who played the lead role in the movie, was facing a different kind of challenge when she became a mother in real life.
As fans watched June Osborne (played by Moss) navigating dangerous missions and wearing noticeably oversized outfits in the early episodes, many began speculating if the actress was pregnant during filming. The wardrobe choices — layered coats, baggy sweaters — were not typical, even for a character hiding in No Man’s Land. But the truth is, Elisabeth Moss wasn’t pregnant during Season 6 production. She was already a mom.
Moss welcomed her first child sometime in mid-2024, although she hasn’t publicly revealed her baby’s birth date. Production on the final season officially began in September 2024, meaning Moss was around three months into her motherhood journey when she stepped back onto set. She confirmed this timeline herself during an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen, where she admitted with a sigh that the experience was “tough,” especially while balancing directing duties.
“It’s the best and most challenging thing,” she told Andy Cohen. “As everyone who has kids knows… it’s amazing.” But the balancing act was real. Between night feedings, directing scenes, and portraying one of TV’s most emotionally complex characters, Moss was running on more than just adrenaline — she was powered by the emotional depth of new motherhood.
Elisabeth Moss TELLS Jimmy Kimmel Live that she is pregnant with her first child.
Jimmy Fallon kicked off their conversation with a laugh, joking to Elisabeth Moss, “Are you pregnant or just an incredibly committed method actor?”—a nod to her layered performance in The Handmaid’s Tale Season 6 and her real-life transition into motherhood.
During the chat, Elisabeth also shared some quirky advice she got from fellow actor and friend Bill. According to her, Bill encouraged her to “bring Christmas lights to hang or beads of some kind [in the delivery room],” suggesting a cozy setup complete with a night light and music. The goal? To make the hospital room feel less like a hospital and more like home.
Her role as June, a mother separated from her child in the brutal world of Gilead, had always been central to the story. But for the first time, Moss was no longer just acting out that pain — she was pulling from her own real-life emotions. In an interview with Good Morning America, she shared, “It’s impossible not to think about the real child and to draw those parallels in a very emotional way.”
Throughout the series, June’s bond with Hannah (Jordana Blake) and later Nicole has been a cornerstone of the character. But in Season 6, Moss’s personal connection to motherhood brought something even more layered to the screen. Her performance resonates with a quiet intensity that can only come from living what she’s portraying.
Interestingly, Moss’s personal life has always intrigued fans. Though she keeps much of it private, it’s known that she was previously married to Saturday Night Live alum Fred Armisen. The two married in 2009, but the union was short-lived — they separated in 2010, and the divorce was finalized in 2011. Since then, Moss has remained single in the public eye, focusing on her career and now, her new role as a mother.
Known for being fiercely private, Moss surprised many when she revealed her pregnancy in early 2024. She never shared who the father is, choosing instead to focus on the joy of becoming a parent. And in many ways, that choice mirrors the strength and independence we’ve come to associate with June Osborne.
So, while fans may not have spotted a visible baby bump in THE HANDMAID’S TALE Season 6, Elisabeth Moss was carrying something just as significant: the emotional weight of new motherhood — and it shows in every scene.
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