Elisabeth Moss on ‘Shell’ and Facing Personal Demons, Plus Updates on ‘The Testaments’

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Elisabeth Moss‘ newest movie, Shell, tackles problems she’s dealt with throughout her acting career. However, she hasn’t faced these issues by herself. Since the beginning of Hollywood, incredibly unrealistic beauty standards have put immense pressure on actors and actresses. And that’s before even considering the difficult reality of getting older. While it’s historically been harder for women to deal with this, men experience similar struggles. Despite her many accomplishments, Moss says she wouldn’t have achieved this level of success if she hadn’t overcome these personal challenges.

In a recent interview with MovieWeb, Moss discussed what motivated her to overcome challenges and achieve success repeatedly. While societal expectations have become more flexible, and there’s generally more acceptance of aging actors (Norma Desmond was only 50 in Billy Wilder’s classic film, Sunset Boulevard), the pressure from social media and constant public attention have made this issue very real for many people, not just celebrities. This is why Shell, featuring Kate Hudson as a wellness expert obsessed with staying young, resonates with audiences today.

Besides talking about Shell, Moss shares her thoughts on her experience with Mad Men, a particularly memorable show from television’s golden era. She also describes how seeing a preview of The Testaments (the eagerly awaited sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale) moved her to tears.


Republic Pictures

George Edelman

I was really interested to hear your thoughts on something happening in Shell – it deals with body image and the pressure to achieve unrealistic beauty standards. As someone who works in Hollywood, just like the character you play, it feels like those pressures are amplified and it’s a really intense version of what many people go through. I think it automatically makes the topic feel bigger and more immediate.

Elisabeth Moss

For many people, including myself, the film’s themes are very easy to connect with. It takes this feeling to an extreme, and a perfect illustration of it is imagining how someone would feel standing next to Kaia Gerber. I thought the casting was brilliant – and she’s a talented actress – because it really captures how we often feel. We all struggle with insecurities. After 37 years as an actress, I’m not overly insecure, but I’m also realistic. I don’t pretend I look like Kaia Gerber [laughs]. So, the idea of being in an audition and feeling less beautiful than everyone else was something I found very relatable and enjoyable to explore.

As a woman, I’m 43, and I’ve often heard over the years, “Oh, you know, as you get older, things will change.” Fortunately, things are improving; many actresses over 40, 50, and even 60 are now doing fantastic work. This is a significant change from when I was younger, which is encouraging as I age. It’s a hopeful sign, but it’s always been a big part of growing up as an actress. It’s something you’re very aware of. Even when I was a teenager auditioning in LA, I didn’t fit the typical cheerleader mold, and I never did.

George Edelman

When I was a teenager, I tried out for one role and immediately thought, “This isn’t for me. I can’t handle this.” So I just stopped trying. I’m really interested to know how you overcame that feeling. A lot of people can relate to it – even if they haven’t gone through it themselves, they understand what it’s like. The movie really nails that feeling in the scene you mentioned. How did you get past thinking you needed to be a certain type – like the cheerleader – and instead focus on your own skills and believe that your talent would take you somewhere? Because it clearly did, and it really worked out for you.

Elisabeth Moss

That’s a great question! Honestly, no one has ever asked me that before, so thank you. I’ve always been very aware of my strengths, and I’ve always loved acting – it really is that simple. I just love to act, and when I felt like I was doing well – though ‘right’ isn’t quite the word – whether it was during my audition for Mad Men or Girl, Interrupted, or something else when I was around 15, when I felt like I’d found the character and was performing well, it was incredibly fun. That feeling was just beautiful and wonderful, and it made all the other, less enjoyable 90% of the time completely worthwhile.

George Edelman

You brought up Mad Men, and I have to say it’s probably my all-time favorite show. It’s definitely among the best shows ever made. I was curious about your experience working on it. Did you all feel incredibly happy and focused while filming? Could you share some thoughts on what made the show so special and why it continues to be so well-regarded?

Elisabeth Moss

It’s good to finally be able to talk about this now, after having some time to gain a little perspective. We all felt, even back then, that this project was special. Actually, everything I’ve worked on that’s been successful – whether it was The West Wing, Mad Men, or The Handmaid’s Tale – shared a common feeling. I always thought, “This is genuinely good. I’d enjoy watching this, and I’m really passionate about being involved.” I remember being amazed by the actor playing Don Draper – he was unlike anyone I’d ever seen. And the performance of the actor playing Pete Campbell was also completely unique. Plus, the writing felt fresh and innovative, unlike anything I’d ever encountered.

It feels like you’re part of a small, special group, and you think to yourself, “This is really enjoyable, I’d definitely watch this.” I’m wondering if anyone else feels the same way about Mad Men – I haven’t talked to anyone about it before. It’s like you’re not sure if others will understand or appreciate it, and you’re thinking, “I think it’s great, but will anyone else get it?”

Just thinking about Mad Men, we now view it with a lot of appreciation, but it wasn’t an instant hit when it first came out, you know? It wasn’t like everyone immediately recognized it as a classic. It definitely gained momentum quickly after that, starting with the Golden Globes and awards like that. But for us, that initial success wasn’t about feeling validated; it was more like, “Are people actually watching?” It was a surprise that anyone had even noticed we were there. That’s really the best way I can explain it, and I hope it makes sense. There was this really unique and wonderful feeling, but you always wondered if anyone else would understand it.

George Edelman

Yes, we did. Do you have any news about The Testaments, considering you’re an executive producer? Now that The Handmaid’s Tale has finished, could you share any updates for the fans about what’s next?

Elisabeth Moss

As a producer, I’ve definitely seen a lot of the footage, and it’s currently in post-production. It’s been fascinating to watch, because usually when a show wraps, there’s a feeling of finality-you close that chapter and say goodbye. But something different happened with The Testaments. I’ve been able to continue working with many of the same people and see the story evolve, which is unusual. I understand why people move on to films, like a Breaking Bad movie or the Downton Abbey films, because it’s amazing to be able to continue the narrative. That’s been a really positive aspect of this experience. It feels like I haven’t really had to say goodbye.

Let me tell you, the moment I watched the camera tests for The Testaments, I started crying. Seeing these amazing young actresses bring these characters to life, with the new costumes and the story continuing with a younger generation… it was incredibly touching, and I wasn’t expecting that reaction. That feeling really captures what the show is all about. This new generation is going to continue the struggle, and it was just really powerful to witness. I think the challenge was finding a way to satisfy the existing audience of Handmaid’s Tale fans, while also taking the story in a fresh direction-you don’t want to simply repeat what’s been done before. Everyone involved has done a fantastic job of creating a new show that can stand independently.

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2025-10-03 22:18