Elisabeth Moss Responds to Question Comparing the Subject of ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ to Scientology

Elisabeth Moss took to social media to share a rare public statement, defending her association with the Church of Scientology.

While the 35-year-old actress stays relatively quiet about her association with Scientology, she touched on the subject very briefly this week after sharing an image on herself on Instagram ahead of the upcoming Emmy Awards.

“Thank you for coming out everyone last night, your love and support of the show means more to us than I’ll ever be able to express in words. Truly,” she captioned the image. “And now we get to go work on bringing you season 2!!! Which by the way is going to blow your minds…”

While fans took to the comments section to express their love and admiration for the Emmy nominated star in her role on the critically acclaimed Hulu series, some asked her questions with the star responding, including one who brought up alleged similarities between Scientology and Handmaid’s utopian society, Gilead, ruled by a fundamentalist regime.

Instagram user, Moley Banks of Boston, Massachusetts, commented that she loved the adaption of Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name, but asked, “Does it make you think twice about Scientology? Both Gilead and Scientology believe that all outside sources (aka news) are wrong or evil… it’s just very interesting.”

Moss replied, “That’s actually not true at all about Scientology. Religious freedom and tolerance and understanding the truth and equal rights for every race, religion and creed are extremely important to me. The most important things to me probably. And so Gilead and THT hit me on a very personal level. Thanks for the interesting question!”

Banks took Moss’ reply in stride, writing, “Thank you for taking the time to try and explain a little. Either way, you do you and imma (sic) do me and if that makes us happy i supposed (sic) that’s all that matters.”

The former Mad Men star was introduced to Scientology through her family, telling The Telegraph she made her a conscious decision to embrace it, saying “It’s not the same thing as going to church on Sunday. It’s self-applied. It involves reading — you have to make a choice.”

Moss went on to say that it’s a way for her to feel centered and that it has helped her at times. However, don’t expect her to be more open about the subject. Last year she told The Guardian that everyone has the right to their own privacy and it was “weird” for her to talk about Scientology in public.

“You feel kind of like, I am a nice person who likes to talk about stuff. I also get the curiosity. I get the fascination. I become fascinated with things that are none of my business as well,” she said. “[But] I am just fascinated when someone breaks up with somebody. I want to know all about it. I am very interested in what people are wearing, and all of that kind of thing, but you have a right to your privacy.”

Photo credit: Twitter / @MultaqaA7ibba, Hulu