Samira Wiley discusses the relevance of 'The Handmaid's Tale' and why Poussey Washington 'is never going to die'

Samira Wiley's heard it before: "The Handmaid's Tale," Hulu's first true breakout series, came at the perfect time: Despite being based on a book from 1985, the story's central themes could not be more timely during the Trump era.

But what does Wiley think about her latest project's ability to connect with viewers on such a deep level?

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"We hear it so much about our show," Wiley told AOL Entertainment at the American Express Pay It/Plan It event in New York this week. "How timely and relevant it is to the time that we’re living in. It hit especially people in my generation so profoundly because most of the people my age just had the Obama era, and we’re too young to really remember things before that, so people are so shocked right now."

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"Having a show to consume like 'The Handmaid’s Tale' opens the doors for discussion and people just need that right now," she continued to tell us of the series, which walked away with 8 Emmys at last month's ceremony, including Outstanding Drama Series.

Wiley was part of another popular show that hit on current events before her stint on "Handmaid's": Netflix's "Orange is the New Black," on which she played Poussey Washington for four seasons before her character was killed in a heartbreaking moment of gross police misconduct. The 30-year-old actress looks back on her time on "Orange" fondly, and not just because she met her wife, writer Lauren Morelli, because of it.

"I’ve kept so many things with me from Poussey," she told us with a smile. "I talk about her like she’s a real person, because to me she is. She’s somebody that’s never going to die, and it's not just her that I take from the show, but I have lifelong friendships from 'Orange,' too."

"I just want to be able to go back and visit whenever I want to!" she added.

We're sure she has an open invitation.

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