Which new and familiar faces can you expect to see in The Handmaid's Tale season 4? Based on the seminal 1985 novel by Margaret AtwoodThe Handmaid's Tale takes place in an alternate dystopian future where a fertility crisis and conservative cultural movement transforms the United States of America into Gilead. Fertile women are brutally oppressed, turned into little more than property for wealthy, influential men. Premiering on Hulu in 2017, The Handmaid's Tale has attracted widespread acclaim, and fans have been eagerly enduring the long wait for season 4 after the most recent run concluded in August 2019 - otherwise known as "the time before."

In The Handmaid's Tale season 3, June continued to defy Gilead following a successful attempt to send her daughter, Nichole, safely into Canada. With help from her allies in the Lawrence household and a coalition of like-minded Marthas and Handmaids, she spirits away an entire group of young children north of the border. In Canada, meanwhile, Fred and Serena continue their war of attrition through Mark Tuello and his fellow investigators. The Commander exposes his wife's crimes, leading to her arrest and the removal of access to Nichole.

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Elisabeth Moss as June

June Osborne is captured in The Handmaid's Tale Season 4.

The protagonist of The Handmaid's Tale. June was ripped apart from her husband, who managed to flee to Canada, while she and the couple's daughter were subjected to the harsh world of Gilead. When The Handmaid's Tale season 3 ended, June was injured in the process of sending children to Canada, but rescued by her fellow Handmaids before succumbing to death. Elisabeth Moss is unquestionably one of TV's biggest stars, with major roles in The West Wing and Mad Men. More recently, Moss stared in The Invisible Man and Us, and also features in Wes Anderson's The French Dispatch.

Joseph Fiennes as Fred Waterford

Fred and Serena Waterford in The Handmaid's Tale

Joseph Fiennes will be familiar to viewers for his heralded performance as the titular Bard in Shakespeare In Love, but has also fronted a number of TV projects including Camelot and the deeply underrated Flashforward. Fred begins The Handmaid's Tale as June's master and had a significant hand in the formation of Gilead. In the aftermath of Nichole's flight to Canada, Fred is arrested by the real Americans and remains in their custody, having been set up by his wife.

Yvonne Strahovski as Serena Joy Waterford

Serena Joy at the airport in The Handmaids Tale

Fred's wife Serena conspired to get June pregnant without her husband's "involvement" and despite being another cog in the Gilead machine, she too rebels for the sake of Nichole, luring her husband into the clutches of Mark. Although Serena was initially afforded a degree of freedom in Canada, she was last seen being arrested after the truth about Nichole's conception came to light. Serena is portrayed by Yvonne Strahovski, who is best known for playing the Agent Sarah in Chuck.

Ann Dowd as Aunt Lydia

Aunt Lydia talking to Janine on The Handmaid's Tale

Capable of both cruelty and kindness, Aunt Lydia manages June and the other Handmaids with an iron fist. Despite committing various horrific acts against the women in her charge, Lydia has a genuine, misguided affection for the Handmaids (Janine especially) but remains committed to Gilead's mission. A storied actress of the big and small screen, Ann Dowd has appeared in The LeftoversPhiladelphia and The Manchurian Candidate.

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Alexis Bledel as Emily

Emily back in Canada on The Handmaid's Tale

Alexis Bledel will be instantly familiar to fans of Gilmore Girls, having played Rory in the cult early 2000s favorite. The Handmaid's Tale finds Bledel as Emily, a Handmaid who, in a previous life, was a married doctor. As a homosexual, Emily's fate is precariously balanced in the ultra-conservative Gilead, and she's consigned to the Colonies. But after launching a failed assassination attempt on Aunt Lydia, Emily manages to escape to Canada with Nichole, finally reuniting with her wife and child.

Madeline Brewer as Janine

Janine in her handmaid outfit in The Handmaid's Tale

With both women inducted into the Handmaid life at the same time, Janine is one June's closest friends and allies in Gilead, and was last seen carrying the protagonist to safety at the end of The Handmaid's Tale season 3. Madeline Brewer played Tricia in Orange is the New Black.

O.T. Fagbenle as Luke

Luke sitting beside an American Flag on The Handmaid's Tale

June's partner from before the formation of Gilead, currently living in Canada as the guardian of Nichole. Luke helps receive the incoming refugees from Gilead. O.T. Fagbenle will play Rick Mason in the upcoming MCU movie Black Widow.

Max Minghella as Nick

Max Minghella as Nick Handmaid's Tale

Biological father to Nichole, Nick and June were romantically involved before his true allegiance to the Eyes was revealed. Nick is now a Commander. Max Minghella appears in The Social Network and The Mindy Project.

Related: What The Handmaid’s Tale Sequel Book Reveals About Season 4 & Beyond

The Handmaid's Tale Season 4's New Cast & Characters

Zawe Ashton as Vod in Fresh Meat

Masa Lizdek as Sarah - Masa Lizdek will appear as an escaped former Handmaid called Sarah in The Handmaid's Tale season 4.

Zawe Ashton - Listed as Moira's girlfriend, Esther is a Canada-based character played by Zawe Ashton, who will be known to fans of Fresh Meat and Doctor Who. Ashton has landed an exciting future gig on Captain Marvel 2.

McKenna Grace as Esther - A teenager married to a much older Commander in Gilead, Esther Keyes is said to be a hidden rebel with an unpredictable streak, despite appearing obedient on the outside. McKenna Grace played the younger Theodora in The Haunting of Hill House and is Rose in Fuller House. Didn't appear in House.

Reed Birney - Confirmed only to play a character in Gilead, Reed Birney is an award-winning Broadway actor.

Alexandra Castillo as Dawn - Seen portraying Chancellor Diara in Utopia Falls.

Samer Salem as David - Salem is a member of Drummer's crew in The Expanse, and plays the super-terrorist who gets brutally beheaded by Black Noir in The Boys season 2.

Related: The Handmaid’s Tale Sequel Book Reveals What Happens To June

The Handmaid's Tale Season 4's Returning Characters

The Handmaids Tale Season 3 Ending Rita

Amanda Brugel as Rita - Formerly a Martha for the Waterfords, Rita escaped to Canada in The Handmaid's Tale season 3's finale. Amanda Brugel also played Marci in Orphan Black and Nina in Kim's Convenience.

Samira Wiley as Moira - June's best friend in the "world before" also became a Handmaid, followed by a Jezebel, but ultimately escaped to Canada, and now aids the refugee effort. Samira Wiley was Poussey in Orange is the New Black.

Sam Jaeger as Mark Tuello - Mark works for the remnants of the U.S. government currently holed up in Alaska, investigating the grim situation unfolding in his former homeland. Mark has been liaising with the Waterfords to punish those committing crimes in Gilead's name. Sam Jaeger's biggest past role came as Joel in Parenthood.

Bradley Whitford as Joseph Lawrence - June's current master and a sometime-ally to the Mayday resistance effort, Joseph is a Gilead Commander complicit in the mass deportation of children to Canada. Bradley Whitford was Josh Lyman in The West Wing and plays Jake Peralta's Dad in Brooklyn Nine-Nine.

Related: The Handmaid's Tale Should Still Use The Book's Ending

Nina Kiri as Alma - Another Handmaid involved with the Mayday group and passing information to June. Alma is one of the Handmaids to recover the ailing June in The Handmaid's Tale's season 3 finale. Nina Kiri appeared in a season 8 episode of Supernatural.

Handmaids Tale - June Hannah and Luke

Jordana Blake as Hannah - June and Luke's daughter, kidnapped alongside her mother, is now known as Agnes and belongs to the Mackenzie household. June hasn't seen her daughter since The Handmaid's Tale's season 3 premiere.

Bahia Watson as Brianna - Familiar to sci-fi fans due to roles in Star Trek: Discovery and The Expanse, Bahia Watson plays Brianna in The Handmaid's Tale. Another of June's Handmaid pals, Brianna is known within Gilead as Oferic, and joins Janine and Alma in carrying the injured June away at the end of season 3.

Stephen Kunken as Warren Putnam - A Commander of Gilead, Warren was the original master of Janine, and remains a loyal member of the Gilead hierarchy, even if they did remove his hand as punishment for adultery. Stephen Kunken is best known as a Broadway actor, but has featured on the big screen in The Wolf of Wall Street and Bridge of Spies.

Ever Carradine as Naomi Putnam - Warren's wife, Naomi, was last seen at Eleanor's funeral, and will return in The Handmaid's Tale season 4. Ever Carradine can also be found in another Hulu series, Runaways, where she plays Janet Stein.

Related: Handmaid’s Tale Needs To Follow Orange Is The New Black's Lead If It's To Survive

Kristen Gutosukie as Beth in Handmaid's Tale

Kristen Gutoskie as Beth - Formerly worked with Nick to move illegal goods for the Jezebels, Beth was one of few who knew Nick was an Eye. She's now a Martha in the Lawrence house. Kristen Gutoskie is Seline in The Vampire Diaries season 8.

Edie Inksetter as Aunt Elizabeth - Another of the primary Aunts alongside Lydia, Aunt Elizabeth is as piously wicked as you'd expect. Edie Inksetter will appear as Detective Kraus in the upcoming Spiral: From The Book of Saw movie.

Sugenja Sri as Sienna - Stationed at the house of Commander Lawrence as a Martha, Sienna is a co-conspirator in June's liberation of children to Canada in The Handmaid's Tale season 3. She's played by Sugenja Sri, who most famously portrayed Stephanie in Designated Survivor.

Jonathan Watton as Matthew Calhoun - A Gilead Commander, Matthew was last seen after the birth of his fourth son, who was delivered after his mother's death. Jonathan Watton was previously Darcy Garland of Murdoch Mysteries fame.

Related: The Handmaid's Tale: What Happens To June In The Book

Krista Morrin as Rachel Tapping - Located in Canada, Rachel is an ally to the U.S., helping bring refugees from Gilead and discover the fate of people like June. Aside from a brief role in The Expanse, Krista Morrin is best known as Lena in No Easy Days.

Clea DuVall as Sylvia - Emily's wife, whom she reunites with after making her way to Canada with Nichole. Can be seen in blockbusters such as The GrudgeZodiac and Argo.

Cherry Jones as Holly - June's mother, and a staunch feminist. Largely appearing via flashbacks, Cherry Jones will reportedly return in The Handmaid's Tale season 4. A major Broadway star, Cherry also played President Allison Taylor in 24.

Charlie Zeltzer as Oliver - Emily and Sylvia's young child in Canada, last appeared in The Handmaid's Tale season 3.

More: Handmaid's Tale Recap: Biggest Questions Season 4 Needs To Answer