Yvonne Strahovski on The Handmaid’s Tale Season Finale, Giving Birth on TV & Growing Up in Australia

Yvonne talks about her Polish upbringing in Australia, taking her family to see Yosemite National Park, her bone to pick with Americans about “dangerous animals” in Australia, a park ranger who demoed how to track bears and then scare them away, playing a villain on “The Handmaid’s Tale,” having a baby on set vs having a baby in real life.
SUBSCRIBE to get the latest #Kimmel: bit.ly/JKLSubsc...
Watch Mean Tweets: bit.ly/KimmelMT10
Connect with Jimmy Kimmel Live Online:
Visit the Jimmy Kimmel Live WEBSITE: bit.ly/JKLWebsite
Like Jimmy Kimmel on FACEBOOK: bit.ly/KimmelFB
Like Jimmy Kimmel Live on FACEBOOK: bit.ly/JKLFacebook
Follow @JimmyKimmel on TWITTER: bit.ly/KimmelTW
Follow Jimmy Kimmel Live on TWITTER: bit.ly/JKLTwitter
Follow Jimmy Kimmel Live on INSTAGRAM: bit.ly/JKLInsta...
About Jimmy Kimmel Live:
Jimmy Kimmel serves as host and executive producer of Emmy®-nominated “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” ABC’s late-night talk show. “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” is well known for its huge viral video successes, with over 11 billion views and more than 15 million subscribers on the show’s KZbin channel. Some of Kimmel’s most popular comedy bits include “Celebrities Read Mean Tweets,” “Lie Witness News,” “Unnecessary Censorship,” “Halloween Candy KZbin Challenge,” and music videos like “I (Wanna) Channing All Over Your Tatum.”

[@dwe2a]

Look, Elizabeth Moss is incredible. Hands down. But Yvonne Strahovski has taken on a role where you absolutely HATE the character, while in the back of your mind, holding space to eventually like her. She has nailed the role of Serena in Handmaid's Tale. For me, it was episode 7, the birth scene. Unbelievable how raw & real that entire scene felt. It's just stunning to see her character experience so much of what she inflicted on others. It's crazy to see her in real life being so comedic, charming & loveable :)

[@TerryYelmene]

@Derrick Ensey - Great Comment! Is there a performance of a more complex human experience of what goes on between those two women, with their unfathomable personal histories, during that shared 'birth' experience? And how many., if any, could have fulfilled Serena Joy's "come-to-be-a-human-moment" other than Yvonne Strahovski? Believe me, the perfection of Elizabeth Moss' June was met completely - totally 100% by the just as brilliant (if not more) Yvonne's Serena! THT, Season 5 - Episode 7 is as good as TV can get!

[@giovanapc1]

Totally agree with you. Serena's done a lot of wrongs but you can definitely like her in some moments and even root for her at times. I guess that's just part of being human... Nobody's completely bad or completely good, we're both. She's an excellent actress and I love the show so, so much! Can't wait to see what's gonna happen. Wondering if June is ever going to be reunited with Hannah (I'm thinking maybe it's a no?)

[@jenniferchandler6511]

Yes! Completely agree!

[@karenling2106]

she's dead

[@givemeahappyending]

When she walked out of the fertility center last week with Noah I was practically yelling RUN RUN RUN!!! I actually had to pause it for a moment cause I was so terrified for her.

[@juliannelegrand1663]

Yvonne has been in the USA for at least 15 years, and the questions are still about the fact that she is from Australia and her parents are Polish, and about spiders and snakes...I feel like it is the same in every talkshow, it is so stereotyped, I'm sure that she has many interesting things to say about who she is and what she does....

[@tnickknight]

It's a major part of her

[@reasonablewalk4982]

They agree to the topics ahead of time so I think she’s cool with it

[@charlizetheron1884]

@@tnickknight thank you

[@charlizetheron1884]

@@reasonablewalk4982 thank you for your great support

[@hasnainrana6416]

Personally if it was me I’d just ask her how her day is going? How’s life going? What does being a mother feel like? I would ask her what her favorite aspect of acting is? I would ask her a million different questions. But the thing is that ultimately I would just try to get to know her the REAL HER. Who she is behind the glamour? Without ever speaking a single word to her I know with every beat my heart makes that there is a true beautiful person there inside and out, but I still just wanna share a real moment with her, so that I can share with her the beautiful person I am in a moment in which she tells me anything whether it be about the way the sun shines on her beautiful hair or how emotionally wrecking playing Serena Joy is.

[@fatalshore5068]

She kills it in this role. I loved her in Dexter and I love her in this. Don't get me wrong, Serena is terrible haha but Yvonne gives a stellar portrayal.

[@lawschoolpro]

And she’s ridiculous hot.

[@florencia_crown]

Have you seen her in Stateless? I think it's her best performance.

[@lawschoolpro]

@@florencia_crown I haven’t, but I will

[@ecemonal879]

I was just going to comment here, she freaking killed it in the show especially this season. For real.. And I loved her in Dexter as well! Can't believe she is 40 already also

[@jackchop1576]

@@ecemonal879 I was disappointed that she wasn't in the reboot or that her also being a serial killer had never been attributed to Harrison at all. His biological father is a serial killer but Hannah was too.

[@MightyMaiT]

Her birth scene was mind blowing 🤯 She deserves all the awards for her character portrayal this season! 🏆

[@edwardfletcher7790]

She's a method actress 🤣

[@charlizetheron1884]

Thank you 😘

[@charlizetheron1884]

@@edwardfletcher7790 thank you 😘

[@TerryYelmene]

@Mai Ho - I totally agree! This birth scene - June in support of Serena - Serena recognizing June's humanity was awe-inspiring. It may be the best ever depicted on TV. ...but for me, Helena birthing her twin boys in the grungy basement of the Dyad Institute, with Sestra Sarah and Art as mid-wives. not to mention, the spirit of Mrs. S assisting... that one just CAN't BE TOPPED! (calling out Orphan Black and the amazing Tatiana Maslany!)

[@AtheistReligionIsCancer]

@@edwardfletcher7790 "ISIS are the real muslims, because ISIS do exactly what the book says." - Andrew Tate

[@NewMessage]

Her accent jumps all over the place, and I'm kinda obsessed with it now.

[@shike67]

It really is, maybe every 4th word Aussie accent, and all the rest Yank

[@Disney65Fan]

She's Polish/Australian.

[@shike67]

@@Disney65Fan Her folks were Polish, she was born in Australia, she used to be 100% Aussie, there is not or ever has been a single Polish aspect to her accent

[@darkeyezs]

@@Disney65Fan Obviously. She said as much. 😆 j/k

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Yeah, she's lived in America for more than a decade, us Aussies are natural accent mimics...

[@hasnainrana6416]

Yvonne is immaculate. That’s all I gotta say…. She’s underrated, she deserves all the Oscar’s, Emmy’s, golden globes, and all the accolades. ❤️

[@titoramsey1560]

She's very gorgeous

[@mus31]

Loved her since Chuck. ❤️

[@LilTy702]

Same, my favorite show of all time

[@steph9950]

Me too

[@buddysally886]

@@LilTy702 Same , still hot as well

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

Eu gosto muito também de Chuck. 🇧🇷

[@cameronmonlezun4215]

Same here

[@piece0fcharsiu]

Her performance in Season 5 absolutely blows my mind! The complexity of the different stages of her emotions is just outstanding. Hope she gets nominated with awards

[@melissaschaffer4549]

Is this the last season

[@piece0fcharsiu]

@@melissaschaffer4549 There's one last season coming

[@pupax2000]

Yvonne is the absolute best. Beautiful as hell, and such a great actress. She does action and drama equally well.

[@charlizetheron1884]

Thank you 💚

[@mrbig1022]

@@charlizetheron1884 no

[@vixxp2856]

Yeah she has such a beautiful face😍

[@lxcy0190]

she looks mediocre

[@ziggzaggzip8241]

Loved her in Chuck, Dexter, and now The Handmaid. Great actress that brings her characters to life.

[@aussiechris9111]

She was really good in "The Fappening" too

[@OrangeSoda1432]

@@aussiechris9111😂😂😂😂😂

[@h20luli]

It’s incredible how far she’s gone to since her chuck days, im soooo happy for her

[@ClarkRahman]

It is so strange to see her so glammed up and speaking with an Australian accent. It really shows how far she actually is going with her interpretation of Serena.

[@captainjefferies9047]

It's the same American accent she uses for everything.

[@usehername1]

This is a mixed Australian American accent. Common for someone who's lived in the US for over a decade practicing the accent.

[@usehername1]

@@captainjefferies9047 This is a mixed Australian American accent. Not her American accent.

[@captainjefferies9047]

@@usehername1 Try to pay attention if you want to participate.

[@s1x6x1s]

i'm head over heels for her since her Chuck days. loved her on Dexter--sad that she wasn't invited back for the final mini-series.

[@zero604]

Also was in the Mass Effect games.

[@SilentBob731]

She's all kinds of nifty. Also, We Need A Chuck Finale Movie! 😉

[@aliengranpa]

Nifty? That's probably the best way I've heard to describe her!

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

ERA SENSACIONAL CHUCK. 🇧🇷

[@vixxp2856]

Omg nifty! Never heard this word but i might use it from now on lol

[@SilentBob731]

@@vixxp2856 It's a word I've heard since childhood, but I really started including it in my vernacular after Willow used it in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer finale. 👍

[@vixxp2856]

@@SilentBob731 english is not my first language and hearing words i never heard is so interesting 😃

[@natalieparker3187]

We loved her so much in the old tv series Chuck.

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

Assistia muito aqui no Brasil. 🇧🇷

[@Disney65Fan]

She will always be Sarah Walker from Chuck.

[@buddysally886]

Agree on that, I don’t mind Hannah as well

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

ATUALMENTE AINDA ASSISTO CHUCK. 🇧🇷

[@ItsMeJaneW]

Holy moly Ms Strahovski! Insanely mind-blowing performance this season. Mama Serena in the barn was like a brand new character. Go get that Emmy!

[@charlizetheron1884]

Thank you for your great support 😘

[@tasintamron]

Manifesting that she’s an Emmy WINNER this time next year.

[@marcusbettina7543]

Jimmy Kimmel is the usual "lets' make a lot of stupid stereotyped questions"

[@hypello9534]

She deserves an Emmy for her role this season.

[@julianlora_]

Sarah Walker 😍

[@buddysally886]

🐐

[@victorpradha9946]

Yvonne could have just banked on being another pretty face and gone the beautifu, alluring femme fatale route, but she didn't. She has done some exceptional acting in a variety of roles. She's very versatile. And IMO, she's a very underrated talent!

[@captainjefferies9047]

"alluring femme fatale route" That's exactly what she is here.

[@Alex-xh2tb]

I can tell femme fatale role is the one she has been trying hard not to be boxed in. She said about it when it comes to her character choices.

[@ivanromero7274]

How great would Ivonne have been as Captain Marvel, just saying.

[@mikefredd3390]

I binged watched Chuck twice. That entire cast had chemistry and she crushed her role.

[@WalterWhite-sm2dr]

It’s such a feel happy show…

[@DaleMaraugha]

She is such an amazing actress.

[@dianchichi]

Super underrated actress, I hope she will have more apportunities in the future for great career. She acted incredibly in season 5

[@naokisan07]

The character Miranda Lawson from the Mass Effect videogame was designed with the looks of Yvonne and she even voices "Miri". ❤

[@matthewg8345]

Love her! Such a bizarre opening few questions for her.

[@HighnFunctioningAlcoholic]

Loved her in Dexter and Chuck. Love to hate her in Handmaid. That's a good actress.

[@joeywild2011]

I first knew her as Miranda Lawson, and now Serena Joy. Great actress and I’m a huge fan

[@mr.j410]

!!!

[@evandubey4995]

Should see her as Sarah Walker! Chuck is a really good tv show

[@joeywild2011]

@@evandubey4995 I’ll check it out! I’m kind of surprised because she’s a phenomenal actress but I don’t see her in much. The only thing I’ve seen her in aside from Mass Effect and Handmaid’s Tale is a horror movie where she’s a mother stuck with her family in a cabin.

[@evandubey4995]

@@joeywild2011 she’s in a movie called tomorrow war with Chris Pratt too. It’s on Amazon prime.

[@jamesz1003]

She played Miranda in Mass Effect

[@Rickety_Cricket]

I remember when I finally got Hulu and started watching The Handmaid's Tale, in her first scene, I was like 'Omg... Miranda!?' Miranda freaking Lawson is on this show!' lol it took me less than a minute to realize it was her.

[@makon89]

Miranda Lawson is that you?

[@rsd477]

More chuck please

[@buddysally886]

I wish this as well

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

Seria muito bom. 🇧🇷

[@TerryYelmene]

@rsd 477 - Agreed. So many of us wanted more... but at this point... the story would have to be that time had passed them by. There simply couldn't be as many spy adventures when the entire cast are all a bunch of Roan Montgomerys! Still... Charah Forever

[@paulrobinhidalgo2502]

Sarah Walker

[@hasnainrana6416]

Hi Sarah Walker, hope to see u return to my screen one day ❤️alongside Chuck.

[@givemeahappyending]

Absolutely fantastic finale! Those last 30 seconds were exactly what I’ve been wanting since the end of season 2. And now (especially with Lydia’s past due awakening) the Hannah rescue is *really* on!!! Season 6 feels like it’s years away, but blessed be the fruit when it finally does show up.

[@REaDComicsau]

The bone she picked with Americans about animals was perfect!

[@worf7271]

Bears may be more dangerous than venomous spiders, but a bear won't attack you while you're going to the bathroom in the middle of the night.

[@jlbueno0611]

​@@worf7271 more people die of snake bites and spider bites in the us , than in Australia.... I'm always more afraid of walking in arizona desert than in asutralia any day...I'm from Phoenix, and encounter about 10 rattle snakes per year... and thats just the ones I'm able to see.

[@charlizetheron1884]

@@jlbueno0611 thank you

[@charlizetheron1884]

@@worf7271 thank you

[@TheTardisDreamer]

@@jlbueno0611 While I agree bears are scary, Australia hands down beats America in regards to how deadly its snakes and spiders are. That's a fact. If you research the deadliest spiders and snakes on the planet, Australia wins in an absolute landslide. We have what's regarded in the world as the deadliest spider and the deadliest snake. And our spiders and snakes fill out the lists. Australia would have fewer deaths for two reasons. Firstly, our population is tiny in comparison to America. And secondly, because Australia takes snake and spider bites incredibly seriously.

[@mikekillagreen9432]

Im still mad they didn't go forward with a Kate Morgan spinoff.

[@zombiesl4yer499]

RIP her Australian accent. It was nice while it lasted.

[@jenniferchandler6511]

I love her. Such a great actress. Absolutely hate Serena.

[@laracroftvideos]

She’s starting to develop a mixed accent which is understandable since she’s been staying in the US on and off for nearly a decade and all her roles require her to speak with an American accent. There are interviews where she’s more consistently Aussie, but she probably says some words the American way when doing these big talk shows so the predominantly American audience can get past her roots and listen to the content of what she’s saying

[@TheLadyBugGem]

I totally get it. This is my life too

[@bobbucks]

Her character on Chuck is the sexiest woman on TV ever.

[@buddysally886]

She was my crush, easily a 100/10

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

Eu também gostava muito. 🇧🇷

[@just4mygrl413]

Wow, she's not only talented and amazing but she's drop dead GORGEOUS! 🥰😍❤ She deserves all of the awards for Handmaid's Tale. I don't believe there's 1 more season :( this is my favorite show!

[@Jenny-ls7hf]

She is an INCREDIBLE actor. Love her talent! Fwiw- She’s way better than Moss.

[@itsalexvargas]

love her !!! but I feel like jimmy Kimmel is not a good interviewer

[@CatJabZ]

This show is so well done and so well acted that I kinda enjoyed the slap more than I thought. Then I, oh, world now

[@sebastiansierrajaramillo9872]

Wow, she looks perfect, so Beautiful 😍

[@loveforeignaccents]

Butterface.

[@bluenightsky]

Am I the only one that thinks Jimmy Kimmel did an awful job in this interview? The first minutes alone were terrible.

[@Chris_EOP]

Polish women are beautiful and intelligent ❤️❤️

[@name_christian]

The reason you should watch Chuck! 😊

[@carlodanger5609]

She is overdue for an Emmy.

[@worf7271]

Strahotski.

[@marlena5323]

Fabulous gorgeous actress! Deserves a Golden Globe & an Emmy. Jimmy way off on the interview though....

[@MrsSoniaK]

Omg what are these questions Jimmy 🤦🏼‍♀️

[@markharris8640]

She is one of the most stunningly beautiful actresses around....

[@aliengranpa]

I would call her a national treasure, but I don't know which nation gets to claim her

[@buddysally886]

Australia mate

[@BrokeGuysEntertainmentTV]

Miranda Lawson

[@NewMessage]

That works with a black bear... usually. A brown bear/grizzly? Not so much.

[@Notthemikeurlookin4]

Yvonne happens to be a part of a lot of media I like coincidentally and I like her acting in all of it. Miranda in Mass Effect 2 will always to me though because that's one of my favorite games. Chuck is also a gem.

[@buddysally886]

Sarah 😍😍

[@bringinfunny1]

Jimmy's jokes don't land. They fall flat. Just awful!

[@brianegendorf2023]

I love the dynamic of Serena being stuck with that family and getting even the smallest sense of what its like to be on the receiving end of being a Handmaid. If she totally escapes, I feel like she should use any money or riches she ever gets to to make it up to Offred/June. PS. As an aside, Elisabeth is now the master of "I hate you so much right now!" look.

[@thedarkcriminal1658]

Yvonne is so gorgeous that I wanted to be Chuck or Dexter.

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

CHUCK me lembra minha infância. 🇧🇷

[@gabrielsamson4294]

I'll always see her as sarah walker

[@datfly3034]

Yvonne is awesome, but Jimmy’s questions are so painfully ordinary.

[@hardtoloved]

she's so sophisticated and eloquent

[@themeltedchocolate]

Why do American TV show hosts always act like that whenever their guest is not an american lol

[@grdnlee9]

She's incredibly smart and beautiful. I love to watch her interviews. I'm not sure why Handmaid's was not eligible for awards, but I hope Yvonne gets her chance at one sometime in the future.

[@matheus14.11]

She's such an amazing actress! They definitely could have prepared better questions for her. She had to spend most of the interview on stupid prejudiced questions about Australia, and when the host finally gets to talk about her job, he asks "what's the difference between having a real baby and a baby on set"? Like, seriously?

[@sabrinadelrosario7909]

Loved her in Chuck!

[@lisas5211]

She's lovely. Hate her on Handmaids LOL. Actually, she might be turning things around.

[@mariposa1933]

She is a great actress. She did a series on immigration a while back, I forgot what it is called but it maybe on Netflix. It was really good. It covered a ton of important issues.

[@bryanjackson405]

I miss Chuck!

[@buddysally886]

Same

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

Poderiam ter continuado. 🇧🇷🥲

[@timk4829]

Loved her since CHUCK. She's BEAUTIFUL in every way.

[@koczownik]

Cześć Iwona, pozdro!

[@neonlooiz]

Jimmy needs to let her talk lol

[@idrisahmed2659]

I swear she has one of the most radiating and beautiful smiles ... Her and Anna torv are two Australian actresses I admire ...

[@heartlocket91]

How incredible does she look. Her second son isn’t even one yet. He turns one in December. 🤩❤

[@checkonetwo]

She is amazing, beautiful, and great actress. I hated her character and same time felt sorry for her . She did great !

[@Roddrummer]

She has the full American-Aussie hybrid accent going now....

[@cherylbarnard5621]

I love/hate Serena the same way I hated/loved Cersei.

[@AcairoeFourth]

Yvonne deserves an Emmy next year!!!!

[@theghost4729]

I really enjoyed Chuck!

[@buddysally886]

Who didn’t

[@glenharper3136]

I loved her on Chuck.

[@eurismarcobispodesouza7914]

Passou durante muito tempo aqui no Brasil. 🇧🇷

[@johnhaxby306]

she did such an amazing job with this character that it's a little hard to separate her from Serena, like I see her and I want to like her but then I remember how horrible she was to Elizabeth and then I have to remind myself "that is just a character", that's how good she is. Like when you see Tom Cruise get interviewed you know that's Tom Cruise the actor, but when you see her you have to stop yourself from believing that she is Serena. I hope she has a great career, she obviously deserves it.

[@jason_108]

She plays Serena so well. Especially seeing how extremely different her real life personality is.

[@rainbowsandlove]

She has such a relaxed excitement (if that makes sense, like she’s comfortable giggling and chatting away?!) that is so contrary to her character in Handmaid, she seems cool…!

[@artieo5339]

It’s kinda funny how her accent has morphed to a little American

[@HuatulcoGuy]

Hard to watch her in real life without thinking of her as a psychopath. Great actress! 👍

[@monkeysluvdani]

I would absolutely prefer to be killed by a fuzzy bear than anything else in Australia

[@Mith29]

Be nice if he let her talk

[@Myspace1]

Finally she is out from 'Giliead"

[@gurujr]

This is one woman that gets better looking with each passing year. And a super talented actress without question.

[@lindamurr6250]

I love her Australian accent with English in the same breath....listen to it, you can here every other word has an accent

[@JayRaucher]

I did not choose to watch this show. My girl did, it was background noise until I gave in. This woman's acting has been the most impressive part of the whole show, absolutely amazing

[@harryshepherd9288]

Truly outstanding actress. Those scenes alongside Elisabeth Moss is pure electricity. So raw, and real. And it's strange watching Yvonne on Kimmel and seeing a polite, funny lady, compared to the complex evil in Serena. She is more deserving of any acting award than many before her.

[@cm-xq5zj]

You are amazing as Serena Joy! We love/hate the character! Thank you for all you have given to us!!

[@Crlos-in7eu]

As nk

[@TheLadyBugGem]

This is painful to watch. Leave her alone about where she came from. Who cares about snakes and spiders. We all know this. Its not news! Talk about how her portrayal of Serena is changing lives for women. What a waste of an appearance.

[@jodihowell8077]

I’ve loved her since watching Chuck!

[@theatb89]

I love her! These questions though are so rude and trash. Jimmy could do better. She’s a class act! ❤️

[@brideofallunquietthings888]

Gosh the host is so rude and obnoxious. Yvonne is so radiant, charming and funny and she looks so uncomfortable. She keeps trying work some life into this interview and he just ruins it.