Who Is Aunt Phoebe Really in "The Handmaid's Tale"?

WARNING: This article includes spoilers from Season 6 of The Handmaid's Tale.

This season, The Handmaid's Tale welcomed a number of fresh faces, such as Josh Charles portraying the enigmatic Commander Wharton and Timothy Simons playing the despicable Commander Bell.

The series likewise brought Aunt Phoebe, portrayed by D'Arcy Carden (known for her role in The Good Place), into the spotlight, with her involvement having been previously announced.

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Many people are eager to learn more about the enigmatic character and her part in the grim dystopian TV show—here’s what you need to know.

What role does Aunt Phoebe play in "The Handmaid's Tale"?

At first, Aunt Phoebe seems to be acting under Aunt Lydia’s (Ann Dowd) guidance as she leads the handmaids for Serena Joy's (Yvonne Strahovski) nuptials.

It appeared she was merely assisting the Handmaids in preparing for their responsibilities towards the Commanders, viewing them as 'holy vessels' meant to bear the offspring of Gileed.

It turns out later that she is loyal to Mayday and is helping them from inside Gilead.

Carden formerly shared with Us Weekly about Aunt Phoebe having numerous "secrets," hinting at how she was “determining which details to disclose and when to share them.”

Carden first believed she would play the antagonist upon finding out she was assigned the role of an Aunt. However, after reviewing the script, she was pleasantly shocked to realize she was actually portrayed as a "protagonist" and a "benign character."

The celebrity remarked: "There will be additional aspects of the character beyond what appears on screen, which is incredibly thrilling."

Teasing: "This character is incredibly complex; it felt as though each line had me second-guessing everything."

She commented, "This series consistently delivers surprises and plot developments. Every episode is filled with substance and nothing seems like padding." The Handmaid’s Tale My character's storyline progresses rapidly.

It seems Aunt Phoebe will be at the forefront in Boston as the handmaids' uprising begins, leading to intense and brutal confrontations.

In certain aspects, Aunt Phoebe complements The Testaments as well as Aunt Lydia’s personal path towards redemption and her struggle against the established order.

Carden also delivers the season six catchphrase: "Let the revolution begin," highlighting her significant part in the show.

The celebrity conveyed her astonishment at being the individual to utter the statement, sharing with The Daily Beast: "It was one of those moments when I thought, 'Wow, this is me saying this,'\" I get to say this?!”

Aunt Phoebe will be present until the very last episode of "The Handmaid’s Tale," though the actress was unable to confirm if her character would survive the turmoil leading up to the series conclusion.

Despite this, as a big admirer of the series, Carden acknowledged it was touching to be part of the filming process and witness the cast members becoming emotionally moved as the show reached its conclusion.

She mentioned that the part of Aunt Phoebe seemed "incredibly powerful" because the character challenged the system in place.

The Handmaid's Tale season 6 premieres on Hulu and Disney+ on Tuesday nights.