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'The Testaments' Stars Ann Dowd and Mabel Li on Lydia and Vidala's Dark Past, Gilead's 'Aunts' Program Origin Story

Source: VarietyView Original
entertainmentApril 30, 2026

Apr 29, 2026 4:30pm PT

‘The Testaments’ Stars Ann Dowd and Mabel Li on Lydia and Vidala’s Dark Past, Gilead’s ‘Aunts’ Program Origin Story

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Jennifer Maas

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Jennifer Maas

TV Business Writer

@jmaasaronson

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Disney

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers for “Stadium,” Episode 6 of “The Testaments,” now streaming on Hulu.

It’s been clear since the beginning of Hulu’s “The Testaments” that Aunt Vidala (played by Mabel Li) is not Aunt Lydia’s (Ann Dowd) biggest fan — and now we know why.

During this week’s episode of Hulu’s “The Handmaid’s Tale” followup series, more backstory is revealed for Lydia — whom “Handmaid’s” viewers came to learn much about over that show’s six-season run — including the fact she actually created the Aunts program in Gilead to save herself in the early days. What’s more, she was willing to actually murder Vidala to make it work.

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‘The Testaments’ Stars Ann Dowd and Mabel Li on Lydia and Vidala’s Dark Past, Gilead’s ‘Aunts’ Program Origin Story | TrendPulse