Alexis Bledel, who has played Emily/Ofglen on The Handmaid’s Tale since its premiere on Hulu in 2017, is leaving the show ahead of the fifth season.
“After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid’s Tale at this time,” Bledel said in a statement provided to Deadline. “I am forever grateful to Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support.”
June (Moss) led a fierce rebellion against Gilead in Season 4, but the risks she made led to unforeseen and deadly new obstacles. Her desire for revenge and justice threatens to overtake her and damage her most important relationships.
The fifth season is set to premiere later this year.
For her portrayal of the central character, Bledel has won four Emmy nominations and one win for outstanding guest actress, one for each year of her four-year tenure.
Elisabeth Moss, Joseph Fiennes, Yvonne Strahovski, Samira Wiley, Ann Dowd, Max Minghella, Madeline Brewer, O-T Fagbenle, Amanda Brugel, Bradley Whitford, and Sam Jaeger appear in the series, which is produced by MGM Television and distributed internationally by MGM.
Aside from The Handmaid’s Tale, Bledel is most known for her role as Rory Gilmore on Gilmore Girls and the Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life revival, as well as Mad Men and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants film trilogy.
Bruce Miller, Warren Littlefield, Elisabeth Moss, Daniel Wilson, Fran Sears, Eric Tuchman, John Weber, Frank Siracusa, Sheila Hockin, Kira Snyder, and Yahlin Chang are executive producers on The Handmaid’s Tale.