Trump Era’s Terrifying TV Villain Reveals Her True Self

Emmy-winning actress, Ann Dowd joins Matt Wilstein for a fascinating, funny, and revealing conversation about returning as Aunt Lydia in The Testaments, the highly anticipated sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale. She opens up about finally learning Lydia’s backstory, why she never sees the character as a villain, and what it’s been like playing one of television’s most unforgettable roles for nearly a decade. Dowd also reflects on the eerie real-world parallels between The Handmaid’s Tale and today’s politics, winning the Emmy for her iconic performance, and stepping back into Gilead so soon after the original series ended. Plus, she shares behind-the-scenes memories from beloved projects like The Leftovers, Freaks and Geeks, Girls, Hacks, and more, making this a must-watch interview with one of the most talented actresses working today. Follow Kevin Fallon on Instagram ⁠@kpfallon⁠ Follow Matt Wilstein on Instagram ⁠@mattjwilstein⁠ New episodes every Thursday, and Saturday; ⁠early drops on YouTube⁠. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Trump Era’s Terrifying TV Villain Reveals Her True Self is an episode from The Last Laugh by The Daily Beast.

This episode is 39:35 long.

This episode was published on Apr 30, 2026.

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