Ann Dowd in The Handmaid's Tale

What is the kind of preparation that went into understanding the nuances of this role?
To begin with, I, of course, read [Margaret Atwood's novel] on which the series is based. But essentially, to slip into the role of Aunt Lydia, I tried to recall my childhood and how I was raised by Catholic nuns. This doesn't imply that they were cruel or violent. Their notion of commitment and work ethic was strong. You were made to realise that you are not special; you are, in fact, just like everyone else. And these were the opinions that Lydia connected with.