Over the years, Hulu's dystopian series The Handmaid's Tale has seen several characters exit the show, including Alexis Bledel's character Emily/Ofglen. As the final season airs, fans have been reflecting on past seasons and characters, particularly Sydney Sweeney's tragic character Eden Spencer.
Eden was a teenager when she was coerced into marrying Guardian Nick Blaine (portrayed by Max Minghella), a man significantly older than her. The naive young girl became an Econowife but fell for Isaac (Rohan Mead), a Guardian closer to her age, reports the Mirror US.
The pair eloped, but were eventually found and executed in a chilling Gilead fashion - drowned in an abandoned swimming pool with weights attached to them.
When discussing her departure from The Handmaid's Tale, Sweeney revealed that she was always aware that Eden's storyline had a finite "ending". However, she admitted that when she first read the script, she was uncertain about how Eden's narrative would conclude.
At one point, it was speculated that Eden might simply escape with Isaac, seeking freedom from the oppressive regime of Gilead. Speaking to Refinery29 in 2018, the actress shared: "They weren't quite sure what direction they were going in.
"I just knew there was going to be an ending. When I read episode 12 I was completely shocked."
The actress confessed to "screaming at the page" when she first read Eden's final, heart-wrenching scenes.
Sweeney expressed her satisfaction that the writers chose such a bleak conclusion for Eden, believing it would leave a "huge impact" on viewers.
Furthermore, Sweeney suggested that the aftermath of Eden's demise would significantly affect other characters, including Nick, June Osborne (played by Elisabeth Moss), and Serena Joy (portrayed by Yvonne Strahovski).
Prior to shooting their last scenes, Sweeney and co-star Mead underwent a few days of technical training with scuba divers.
The pair wore wetsuits, attached various weights to themselves, and practised holding their breath underwater.
"So when we got to the actual day of filming, we were 100 per cent prepared, and I was really excited to finally jump in," Sweeney shared with the media outlet.
Since her role in The Handmaid's Tale, Sweeney's career has been on an upward trajectory, with roles in Euphoria, The White Lotus, Madame Webb, and romantic comedy Anyone But You.
IMDb lists numerous upcoming projects for Sweeney, including Scandalous!, Split Fiction, Echo Valley, and The Housemaid.
The Handmaid’s Tale season 6 will be coming to Prime Video and Channel 4 on May 3 in the UK
