Who played Serena Joy in the TV series?

Yvonne Strahovski played Serena Joy Waterford in the television series The Handmaid’s Tale.

Serena Joy is the wife of Commander Fred Waterford and one of the architects of Gilead’s ideology. Before Gilead, she was a conservative cultural activist and author who promoted women’s submission and domestic roles. Under the new regime, however, women—including elite Wives—are barred from reading, writing, professional work, and public influence.

Strahovski’s performance emphasizes Serena’s contradictions: she helped shape a system that confines women, yet she is personally restricted by it. She is capable of affection, calculation, cruelty, and regret, especially in her relationship with June Osborne, the Handmaid assigned to her household.

The role was a major departure from Strahovski’s earlier television work, particularly her part as Sarah Walker in Chuck. Her portrayal earned nominations for major awards, including the Primetime Emmy, Screen Actors Guild, and Golden Globe awards.