Fans of The Testaments are eager to learn more about the show's most sinister character and the actor who portrays him. Warning: This article contains spoilers from The Testaments TV show and the novel by Margaret Atwood.
Who Plays Commander Judd in The Testaments?
Commander Judd is played by English actor Charlie Carrick, who hails from Newcastle-upon-Tyne. The 39-year-old star grew up in England and discovered his passion for acting after a school production of William Shakespeare's classic A Midsummer Night's Dream. He later studied at the Vancouver Film School, inspired by his grandfather, who moved to Canada after the war. Carrick's mother was born in Canada, but the family eventually returned to Newcastle.
Carrick has appeared in numerous films and TV shows across American and British productions, including We Were Liars, Hidden Assets, Cedar Cove, Reign, ITV's Deep Water, COBRA on Sky, and Departure. More recently, he has featured in The Royal We, The Apprentice movie, and The Copenhagen Test. According to IMDb, he will next star in Call Me Queen and Stranger in Town, both in post-production.
Commander Judd's Role in The Testaments
Carrick's Commander Judd is a key character in the series, just as he was in the 2019 Margaret Atwood novel. Much like in the book, there are many similarities between Commander Judd and Commander Fred Waterford (Joseph Fiennes), both physically and in terms of Gilead's power structure. In the novel, Commander Judd is rumored to kill off his Wives before finding a younger bride. He becomes engaged to Agnes (Chase Infiniti), but Aunt Lydia (Ann Dowd) spares her this fate when Agnes becomes an Aunt at Ardua Hall. In the book, Commander Judd had five Wives, with Shunammite (Rowan Blanchard) becoming his last. However, the TV show may diverge from the source material, as differences have already emerged.
What Happened to Penny in The Testaments?
In the TV series, Commander Judd's wife Penny (Ellen Olivia) is shown pregnant, with the Plums marveling at her conceiving without a Handmaid. Tragedy strikes in episode six when Penny suffers complications and loses the baby, leaving Commander Judd emotionally devastated. He confides in Aunt Lydia, who suggests using a Handmaid, but he reminds her that this is no longer her area as head of the school. The portrayal of Commander Judd in the series appears more sympathetic and kinder compared to his book counterpart. Audiences will have to wait and see how the series unfolds and whether he is secretly murdering his Wives.
The Testaments airs on Disney+ and Hulu on Wednesdays.
