The first season of The Testaments wrapped up on May 27, 2026, and fans who blinked nearly missed a special appearance from the woman who started it all. Margaret Atwood, the author who created the world of Gilead, showed up in the Season 1 finale for a brief but memorable role that has viewers talking.
Atwood Appears as a Prison Matron in Episode 10
In the finale titled “Secateurs,” Atwood plays a female prison guard who escorts Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) to see Becka Grove (Mattea Conforti) . Becka has been locked up after killing her father, who had been abusing her friends.
The scene happens about five minutes into the episode. Atwood’s character, dressed in black with gloves and white hair, warns Aunt Lydia: “Don’t agitate her,” before walking away. It is a short moment, but fans of the books quickly recognized the author’s face.
Some viewers did not catch the cameo at all. On Reddit, one fan wrote, “I literally screamed ‘MARGARET ATWOOD!!!’ and my husband in the other room said ‘cameo, then?’” Another viewer admitted, “Ooo wait what part was it? I don’t know what she looks like.”
Atwood had teased her appearance earlier this year on her website, saying, “I have a cameo in [‘The Testaments’], though I can’t say as what, except that it’s scowly.” She also shared that the scene was filmed in the holding cells of Old City Hall in Toronto, calling the experience fun despite the grim setting.
This Is Not Atwood’s First Time in Front of the Camera
The author first stepped into Gilead on screen back in 2017 during the first episode of The Handmaid’s Tale. In that cameo, she played an Aunt who slaps June (Elisabeth Moss) at the Red Center.
Atwood later revealed that the slap scene had to be shot four times because she was not hitting Moss hard enough. “It’s very odd to have your leading lady turn around and say, ‘Come on, come on, hit me harder,’” she said in a 2022 interview with PBS.
The second cameo in The Testaments gave Atwood a different kind of role. This time, her character carries authority without physical violence.
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Cast and Crew Loved Working with the Author
Mattea Conforti, who plays Becka, admitted she was nervous to meet Atwood. “I was a big Margaret Atwood fan before I met her,” Conforti told Woman and Home. “I was excited to meet her, and speak with her about the world we were building that she created. She is just such an intelligent and strong woman, and you can just feel that aura when you’re around her.”
Conforti also said Atwood was scary in character but very kind between takes. “It was the day on set where I had to be mentally insane in a prison,” she explained. “I wanted to really communicate to Margaret exactly what was Becka going through at this time.”
Showrunner Bruce Miller told TVLine that the cast was excited to have Atwood on set. “The women in the cast who are huge Margaret Atwood fans grew up on Margaret Atwood, and they were on fire the day that she came. They were just vibrating.” Miller also noted they made sure she had a cool costume and that she had as much fun as anyone could imagine.
Other Surprise Appearances in the Finale
Atwood was not the only familiar face in The Testaments Season 1 finale. Elisabeth Moss also appeared as June, continuing her role from The Handmaid’s Tale. June’s storyline connects directly to the main characters, as Agnes (Chase Infiniti) is actually June’s long-lost daughter Hannah, who was taken from her years ago.
The finale also included a surprise kiss between Becka and Agnes before Becka married Garth (Brad Alexander) . Becka had a crush on Agnes, and the moment caught many viewers off guard.
The Testaments is set 15 years after the events of The Handmaid’s Tale and follows young women growing up in Gilead. The series has already been renewed for a second season on Hulu. Streaming details for audiences in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, and India are available through Hulu and Disney+ depending on the region.
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