You’ve seen her as Peggy Olson in Mad Men or the defiant June Osborne in The Handmaid’s Tale. She’s Hollywood’s go-to for playing women who dismantle oppressive systems. It’s why people find the reality of her personal life so jarring. Is Elisabeth Moss a Scientologist? Yeah, she is.
Honestly, she didn't just join up after getting famous. This wasn't a Tom Cruise situation where he was recruited at the height of his career. Moss was born into it. Her parents were musicians, and she grew up in the church. By the time she was eight, she was taking courses like "Hubbard Key of Life." At eleven, she was labeled "Clear." That’s a big deal in that world. It basically means you’ve reached a state where you’re no longer governed by your "reactive mind."
But she’s kinda quiet about it. That's what trips people up.
The Handmaid’s Tale Paradox
It’s the elephant in the room. How can you play a woman fighting a religious theocracy while belonging to a group that many critics call a cult? Fans have been screaming about this for years. They see the parallels: the control, the separation of families, the "disconnection."
One fan actually cornered her on Instagram once, point-blank comparing Gilead to Scientology. Moss didn't ignore it. She actually replied, saying that the idea of them being similar is "not true at all." She argued that religious freedom and tolerance are the most important things to her. She sees the show as a defense of those freedoms, not a mirror of her own faith.
It’s a weird mental tightrope to walk.
Why she doesn't talk about it
Moss has told The New Yorker and The Guardian that she doesn't want to be "cagey," but she also doesn't want you thinking about her personal life while you're watching her work. She wants you to see the character. If you know she loves hot yoga or what her religion is, she thinks it’s a distraction.
"If you and I met, just hanging out as friends, I’m, like, an open book about it," she said. But in interviews? She shuts it down. She’s been doing this for decades. She knows the drill.
The Leah Remini "Drama"
There’s this famous story about Leah Remini winning a Television Critics Association award. Remini is, obviously, the most vocal ex-Scientologist on the planet. Reports circulated that Moss walked out of the room when Remini took the stage.
Moss later called that a "lie." She said she didn't even know it was happening and that she was backstage or in the bathroom or something. She also pointed out that she’s never even been asked not to talk to Remini. According to Moss, the church doesn't control her like that.
The Cursing Controversy
Here’s a weird detail: Moss cusses. A lot.
Remember her 2017 Emmy speech? She thanked her mom for teaching her she could be "kind and a f***ing badass." Some whistleblowers claimed that in Scientology, swearing is actually encouraged as a way to "level" with people or show you’re in control. Moss got pretty heated about that one. She called the idea that cursing is a "sacrament" a total fabrication. She says she just has a potty mouth because she's a "normal" person.
Is Elisabeth Moss still a Scientologist in 2026?
As of right now, nothing has changed. She hasn't pulled a Beck—who famously "distanced" himself from the church a few years back after being a lifelong member. Moss remains deeply connected.
You have to realize, for someone born into it, leaving isn't just about changing your mind on a philosophy. It’s about your entire family. In Scientology, if you leave and are declared a "Suppressive Person," your family is often forced to "disconnect" from you. That means no phone calls, no Thanksgiving, nothing.
Her father, who passed away in 2024, was a member. Her mother is a member. Most of her lifelong friends are members.
What most people get wrong
People think she’s being brainwashed or held against her will. That’s usually not how it works for A-list stars. Celebrities in the church get the "red carpet" treatment. They have their own centers. They aren't the ones scrubbing floors for pennies an hour in the Sea Org.
To her, it’s likely just the community she’s always known. She credits the church with helping her communicate better and stay grounded in a crazy industry. Whether you believe that or see it as a PR script, it's her lived reality.
What you should do next:
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- Watch her interviews carefully: If you really want to see her "cagey" side, look at her 2022 New Yorker profile. It’s the most she’s ever said while saying the least.
- Compare the themes: Re-watch The Handmaid's Tale through the lens of her religious freedom defense. It’s a fascinating exercise in cognitive dissonance.
- Research "Celebrity Centres": To understand why stars like Moss stay, look into how the Church of Scientology treats its high-profile members differently than the rank-and-file.
Ultimately, Moss is an actress who wants her work to stand alone. But when your work is about escaping a cult-like regime, people are always going to ask questions about the one you go home to.