‘The Testaments’ Star Mattea Conforti Says Becka Kisses Agnes Because “She Has Nothing Else To Lose”

Añadido: 2026-05-30

[00:00:00]when you got the call that you'd gotten the role of Becca, you were in a biotech ethics lecture at Harvard. How surreal was that moment?

[00:00:10]>> Yeah, it's it's funny. My my friends, they all saw that interview and they've been sending it to me and asking me about that lecture, you know, teasing me a little bit. But, um, it was it was very surreal. I auditioned for it and I honestly I didn't expect to get the role at all at all. I I knew how important this production was going to be and I really wanted to put my best performance forward in order to hopefully get the opportunity to be a part of it. So when I got that call, I remember silencing my parents at first cuz I was like, I'm in lecture. I need to take notes, need to pay attention. And then they were like, I think you should answer your phone, maybe. Um, so I stepped out of my my lecture and then I got the call and I was screaming. I was like, what? No way.

[00:00:52]And then I went back into my lecture and then I I finished out the class.

[00:00:56]>> I was going to say I don't know how you could go and sit in your seat after that.

[00:00:59]>> I sat for maybe 30 more minutes and then I was like I I have to go. I have to get out.

[00:01:03]>> And obviously Becca's trajectory in the novel is very different than the series adaptation. Did the showrunner Bruce Miller talk to you about these changes?

[00:01:11]>> Yeah, that was actually one of the first conversations that we had when I arrived there. Um he wanted and Mike as well.

[00:01:18]They introduced me to the idea to the idea that Becca is romantically interested in Agnes, which is it's different from the book in the sense that it's much more explicit and it's acted upon. Um, but we were talking about how many more layers uh there are to Becca's character in the series and how many things she's struggling with her own identity, her sexuality, you know, who she is. So, there was a lot uh to play with and as an actor, it's such a fun challenge to dive into.

[00:01:47]>> The connection between Becca and Agnes is so important. Um, what was it like working with Chase Infinity?

[00:01:53]>> She's incredible. She's amazing. Working with Chase is honestly truly changed my life and I learned from her every single day when we were on set. She's taught me so many new things. and she was the first person that I actually met when I arrived to pre-production. And we sat down and and we read a scene um from episode 2 when I'm telling her I don't want to get married. And I just instantly knew, oh, this girl is is going to be something and she's going to be one of my my best friends for life.

[00:02:21]>> And when do you think that Becca realizes that she was in love with Agnes? Was was that something that was discussed?

[00:02:28]>> I think yeah, we discussed that. I think Becca's always known that deep down from episode one, she's always had stronger feelings for Agnes. But in a world where they don't know how to label that, they don't know how to navigate those feelings, she hasn't been able to be that honest with herself about how she's feeling. But she's always known that she feels a different way and that she feels stronger for Agnes.

[00:02:51]>> Becca is drunk the first time she says out loud her feelings about Agnes to Daisy.

[00:02:57]>> And Agnes She loves you.

[00:03:06]Not the way I love her.

[00:03:10]Is that sort of the first time she's dared to vocalize those thoughts?

[00:03:14]>> Yeah. I think the way that I internalized that was it's the first time she's a being honest about her feelings with anyone, but b also the first time she's being honest with herself and and verbalizing her own feelings out loud for the first time.

[00:03:27]And I think it was really special that she had that moment with Daisy because Daisy has that outside connection and she's able to to have that support and that acceptance for a for Becca. Um whereas the other girls might be, you know, she doesn't know if they would accept her because they grew up in the same world with the same limitations and same rules. So finding that support and that community within Daisy was was what Becca really needed and that was the person that she needed to have that conversation with. Becca is in denial when Daisy exposes her father's actions, but believes the truth when Agnes reveals what was done to her. Do you think in that moment she knew she was going to kill her father, or did that thought grow over the course of the day?

[00:04:07]>> When Daisy tells her what happened, she >> doesn't believe her at all? I mean, we know what Daisy is saying is not true, but Becca doesn't believe her at all because there are those initial feelings of jealousy and envy, and she's already kind of angry at Daisy's relationship with Agnes from the start, and she thinks she's doing this as a way to kind of get at her and and get more ahead of being closer with Agnes than Becca is.

[00:04:28]But when Agnes tells um Becca, it's this unfortunate moment of reassurance. And you know, whatever Agnes says is is Bible. You know, that's that's the truth. And she trusts Agnes. loves her with all her heart. So when Agnes reveals that this is what's been going on and and Becca has not been aware of it, it's heart it's earthshattering.

[00:04:48]It's heartbreaking. This is the woman that she loves and cares about the most.

[00:04:53]And in a world where you find out about this crime and the men that commit these crimes, you know what the punishment is.

[00:04:59]This is what the ants have been preaching and and teaching for so long.

[00:05:03]So for Becca, this is the right thing to do. This is the right punishment. And I think she's getting accustomed to it and she's becoming aware of it. And in the moment when it finally happens, it's her divine moment of justice. This is what the God is telling her to do.

[00:05:18]This is the right punishment.

[00:05:19]>> First, we see a Becca in the finale.

[00:05:22]She's in a women's holding center, and I believe Margaret Atwood is one of the guards.

[00:05:32]>> Don't agitate her.

[00:05:37]What was it like having her on set?

[00:05:39]>> She is such an I mean, first of all, it was such a privilege to get to meet her.

[00:05:43]We're in the world that she's created.

[00:05:45]We're playing the characters that she thought of. You know, these are these are her characters. So, I wanted to to have again my best performance for her because I wanted her to see Becca the same way that that she originally imagined and and thought of when she was creating this world. Um, but she's such an intelligent woman and she knows obviously she knows what she's talking about, but she's also an incredible actress. She was very scary when she was a prison matron and I think she should explore that avenue of her life a little bit more. Um, but it was it was amazing being and working with her on set. She was amazing.

[00:06:20]>> Obviously, Mrs. Grove proves what a mother's love means when she gives up her own life to save Becca's. What does that sacrifice mean to Becca? Becca's devastated. I mean, she obviously understands that the ants are doing what they should not be doing and protecting and lying for her and and and switching around the narrative, but she doesn't want her mother to die. Her mother didn't do anything. And and we see these women are answering for the crimes of of men once again in this Gilead uh scenario, which is really heartbreaking.

[00:06:51]And you know, Becca's whole world has changed so drastically in such a short amount of time. And now she has to let her mother go. and then walk down the aisle. And that parallel where they're both walking down their own aisle of fate is uh it's it's really interesting.

[00:07:05]>> On the day of Becca's wedding, she's sort of in a fugue state, but she finally works up the nerve to kiss Agnes.

[00:07:12]>> Afterwards, Becca smiles and then frowns.

[00:07:21]>> It's a wonderful piece of acting by you.

[00:07:24]Uh can we talk about that scene? It was obviously such a big moment for us. So, we again had conversations with our creative team and and Mike once again about what story are we telling here?

[00:07:34]You know, what does this kiss truly mean? Um, and we landed on the fact that Becca initially is is first engaging in the kiss. Um, she has nothing else to lose. You know, she's just lost everything. She's about to get married.

[00:07:47]She's having the fate that she doesn't want to have, but there's no other option here. you know, this is kind of a lastditch effort to show her undying love for Agnes. And in that moment when Becca says, "I would, you know, I I know I'm okay because you're here." She understands the way Becca finally feels about her. And her coming back and initiating the kiss back to her is a way of Agnes saying, "I'm here for you. I support you. I accept you. I love you."

[00:08:12]You know, despite whatever Gilead may say, "I'm your friend and I'm here for you." And Becca initially pulls away from the kiss as a way of saying thank you, you know, for for supporting me and being there for me. And yeah, it's just a way to to showcase their love for each other.

[00:08:31]>> The finale clearly sets up a brewing revolution in Gilead, led by its young women. Yeah.

[00:08:37]>> What are your hopes for Becca in season two?

[00:08:41]>> I hope that, you know, if there's a season two, Becca finds some peace. She needs a moment just to relax and and to to really process everything that's happened. But I hope that, you know, she's able to have more honest conversations like she did with Daisy.

[00:08:58]And I hope that she's able to see that these girls are going to support her and and be there for her and she has a community within them. So, I hope that she's able to to have more moments like that.