Elisabeth Moss Says Scientology Is “Misunderstood” in Rare Interview

She noted that she wouldn’t participate in the series if it didn’t align with her beliefs, saying, “Obviously something like religious freedom and resistance against a theocracy is very important to me.”

Nonetheless, Elisabeth said she doesn’t feel the need to defend her ties to the organization, which touts Tom Cruise and John Travolta as members. Having worked in the film industry for most of her life, the actress knows that people are going to make their assumptions about her, whether she likes it or not.

That’s why, she says, she typically doesn’t discuss her faith. “I don’t want people to be distracted by something when they’re watching me,” she said. “I want them to be seeing the character. I feel like, when actors reveal too much of their lives, I’m sometimes watching something and I’m going, Oh, I know that she just broke up with that person, or, I know that she loves to do hot yoga, or whatever it is.”