MADELINE BREWER KNOWS HOW TO MAKE A GRAND EXIT. FROM SAYING GOODBYE TO HER BELOVED CHARACTER JANINE IN THE LAST SEASON OF HULU’S THE HANDMAID’S TALE TO STARRING AS BRONTE IN THE FINAL CHAPTER OF THE WIDELY DISCUSSED NETFLIX SHOW YOU, BREWER KEEPS US ON OUR TOES UP UNTIL THE VERY END. FOR BTB DIGITAL, THE AMERICAN ACTRESS TALKS TO US ABOUT FINALLY TAKING DOWN JOE GOLDBERG, YOU’S SUBVERSIVE SUBJECT MATTER, AND THE PARALLEL PRESENT OF THE HANDMAID’S TALE.

Left Dress **Emporio Armani**
Right Full look **McQueen**

Right Full look **McQueen**
Left Dress and necklace **N°21**, hat **Toukitsou**, boots **Zadig&Voltaire**

Hi Madeline! Let’s start at the end – I just watched the YOU series finale and I’m so impressed, you and Penn [Badgley] had such primal energy in that very last episode. How did you prepare for that shoot?

Well, I think that Penn and I had a really good foundation, a friendship. I respect his work so much, and I felt that same respect from him. Also, we had the greatest crew in all of New York City – they created such a safe environment, and that starts at the top, with the show’s creators and Penn, and then trickles down. And when you have that level of safety and respect, you can go to these places. You can really take yourself pretty far. In the finale, there were scenes where they would call ‘Cut!”, and Penn and I would be dripping wet and covered in blood, and we would be like, “Can I have a hug?” [Laughs] You’re just experiencing such intensity, you allow yourself to go to a really dangerous place emotionally. And when they call “Cut!”, your body doesn’t know that it’s not happening [in real life], your body is still ignited. That’s why on a few occasions, I was like, “Penn, we need to hug because our bodies don’t know that we’re not actually trying to kill each other.” [Laughs]

Left Dress **Dsquared2**, jewellery **Bulgari**
Right Dress **Blumarine**, bra **Agent Provocateur**, earring **Adiba**, stocking Falke

You previously said that you had been a big fan of the show before you got this part. What about this story speaks to you? Why does it feel timely in your eyes?

First of all, the show is very entertaining. But it’s also incredibly subversive. It has so much to say about relationships, about inter-partner violence, about white privilege, about the excuses we’re willing to make for beautiful white men. Domestic and inter-partner violence has been a problem for as long as there have been relationships, specifically the violence against women at the hands of men. And that’s not to say that in other relationships – gay or lesbian relationships – domestic violence isn’t a problem. But focusing here on the relationships between this man and his many women really highlights what the abuse dynamic can look like, and how it’s not in your face. It’s a very slow and deliberate process, and it continues every single time. It’s the Joe Goldberg method that he repeats every. single. time. It starts with observation and research, infiltration, creating coincidences, and becoming the “perfect” person. Then, it’s isolation and manipulation, control and escalation. And finally, not accepting responsibility. And it’s true every single season until that very final moment. Joe cannot take responsibility for his actions. How’s that for consistency?

Left Dress and shoes **Vetements**, watch **Bulgari**
Left Dress **Dsquared2**, jewellery **Bulgari**

Dress **Vetements**, earrings **Bulgari**, stocking **Falke**

Throughout the span of the final season, your character, Bronte, goes through a massive inner conflict between being in love with Joe and wanting to take him down. Which aspects of her were the most interesting for you to explore on screen?

I found Bronte utterly fascinating from my first meeting with our showrunners. I mean, you have to have a screw loose to do what Bronte sets out to do. But I also think it’s a testament to the show and its consistency. It’s hard to believe the “noise” when this beautiful, rich, charismatic, loving man ticks all the boxes and says all the right things. Like, “Who am I supposed to believe? The ex-wife? The tabloids? No, I’m going to believe the man that’s right in front of me.” Not realising that who’s in front of her is a master of abuse and manipulation. And so things change for her when she looks into the eyes of someone who she thought was dead for years. When she sees Marienne, she just tells her the truth and tells her what Bronte has really known all along. And to have it come from this woman who she thought was dead, to see her alive, strong and honest, that changes everything. I love Bronte for the way that she set out to get an answer to a question, and she does not stop until she gets that answer.

Left Dress **Dsquared2**, jewellery **Bulgari**
Right Dress **Vetements**, watch **Bulgari**

Let’s switch gears, from a show that you entered in its final season to a series that you were a part of since its very inception, The Handmaid’s Tale. What will you remember and cherish the most about playing your character, Janine?

I'm incredibly proud of Janine. She has been through so much and always remained true to herself. I grew up with her, she's a part of me in every way. It hasn't really hit me yet that we're not going back. But I also feel like the circle is completed. I have given her everything I can. She has given me everything she's supposed to give me. Our time is finished, and I'm really proud of that time together. So I held nothing back with her, and we have no unfinished business. I still have the eye patch, so I can put it on and look in the mirror anytime I want and say hi.

Left Dress **Dsquared2**, jewellery **Bulgari**
Right Full look **McQueen**

The series is sadly all too close to reality, considering what’s going on in the world of politics right now, even though it’s a dystopian tale…

It’s actually a parallel present. I think when people say that we’re on our way to The Handmaid’s Tale, it’s both yes and no. I think that when you read the original book or watch the first season of the show, those really outline how these things have happened and where we need to keep our eyes open. As June narrates for us, she says that she was asleep before; she didn't want to pay attention – it was too hurtful, too confusing, and defeating. And that's a really “easy” option. It's a really intoxicating option to just be like, “I can't see it, it's not happening.” And that’s the opposite of what we need to do. We need to stay very aware.

I think what The Handmaid’s Tale teaches us is, don’t let the bastards grind you down because they will try. And when they do, then there's no hope left. We are stronger than they are when we have each other, and that's what is maintained into the final season. These women are grassroots organisers. They have a community. Also, I think gossip is inherently political and that we should be speaking to each other. The series shows the necessity of friendship, community support and investing in each other.