A year after her appearance in the Gilmore Girls reboot series A Year in the Life in 2016, Bledel enjoyed a triumphant renaissance with her role in The Handmaid’s Tale.
The actress’ harrowing performance as Emily, or Ofglen, in the dystopian drama won her the Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama series in 2017.
She was subsequently nominated for Emmys for the next three years.
So, it came as a shock to fans when Bledel abruptly announced in May 2022 that she would not be returning for the show’s fifth season.
“After much thought, I felt I had to step away from The Handmaid’s Tale at this time,” she said in a statement to EW.
“I am forever grateful to [showrunner] Bruce Miller for writing such truthful and resonant scenes for Emily, and to Hulu, MGM, the cast and crew for their support.”
No further information has provided, and the reasoning for Bledel’s departure remains a mystery almost a year later.
There has, of course, been plenty of speculation among fans as to what prompted the move; some suspect Bledel was unsettled by her character’s increasingly bleak scenes and experience.
However, given Bledel’s famously private and taciturn nature, we’re not likely to get the full explanation from her anytime soon.
The actress hasn’t returned to screens since the announcement.
For more latest Lifestyle News Click Here