The most interesting rivalry at next month’s Emmy awards is not between the actors nominated for the same show (“This Is Us,” “Feud: Bette and Joan,” “The Night Of” or “ Big Little Lies”).
It’s between a former Scientologist, Leah Remini, and a practicing member of the church, Elisabeth Moss. Remini’s A&E series, “Scientology and the Aftermath” is nominated for Outstanding Information Series or Special. Moss, meanwhile, is nominated for Best Actress for her performance in Hulu’s acclaimed limited series “The Handmaid’s Tale.”
This weekend, Moss posted a photo of herself on Instagram. “Last Handmaids Tale season 1 event until the Emmys!” she wrote. A fan then asked Moss questions about her Scientology beliefs as they relate to the story told in the show, Page Six reports.
“Love this adaptation so much,” one commenter wrote. “Question though, does it make you think twice about Scientology? Both Gilead [the post-apocalyptic region where “The Handmaid’s Tale” takes place] and Scientology both believe that all outside sources (aka news) are wrong or evil . . . it’s just very interesting.”
Moss was quick to rule out any parallels between the show and her religion. “That’s actually not true at all about Scientology,” she answered. “Religious freedom and tolerance and understanding the truth and equal rights for every race, religion and creed are extremely important to me. The most important things to me probably. And so Gilead and ‘THT’ hit me on a very personal level.”
Remini, meanwhile, has used her A&E series to charge that the Church of Scientology objects to Internet use. She also told the Hollywood Reporter that, were she to run into Moss at the Emmys ceremony, things could get a little awkward.
“Elisabeth Moss believes that she can’t talk to me,” Remini said. “There’s a thing in Scientology called ‘acceptable truth.’ It means you only say what’s acceptable to the public. But she believes that I’m an antisocial personality — because I’ve spoken out against Scientology. So she isn’t allowed to talk to me.”
With Scientology facing such scrutiny in the Remini series — which just kicked off its second season during the Emmys voting period — one wonders whether the backlash will affect Moss’s chances on Emmy night. Her closest competitor, Claire Foy, is nominated for playing Queen Elizabeth II in Netflix’s “The Crown,” a series that is enormously popular with Emmy voters.
Will a victory for Remini mean a loss for Moss? Despite six previous nominations for her work on “Mad Men,” Moss has never taken home an Emmy.
If Moss does win, Remini told the Hollywood Reporter she would congratulate her — while throwing her some shade her way. “I don’t hold anything against Elisabeth Moss, other than she’s continuing to support a group that is abusive and destroying families,” Remini said.