Ann Dowd

Ann Dowd is an American actress known for her powerful performances in supporting and character roles across film, television, and theater. Born in Holyoke, Massachusetts, she studied at the College of the Holy Cross and earned her MFA from The Theatre School at DePaul University.

Dowd worked steadily in theater and supporting film roles for decades before gaining widespread recognition. Her memorable performances include films like Marley & Me (2008), Compliance (2012), and Philadelphia (1993). She became a scene-stealer in prestige TV with appearances in The Leftovers (2014-2017) and Olive Kitteridge (2014).

Her career-defining role came as Aunt Lydia in Hulu’s The Handmaid’s Tale (2017-present), the complex antagonist who oversees the training of Handmaids in Gilead. Her nuanced, terrifying, yet unexpectedly sympathetic portrayal won her the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in 2017.

In 2026, Dowd continues the role in The Testaments on Hulu/Disney+, the sequel series based on Margaret Atwood’s 2019 novel, where Aunt Lydia takes center stage as one of the main characters.