Anna Paquin joins Alias Grace miniseries
Project written and produced by Sarah Polley; directed by Mary Harron
Canadian-born Oscar-winner Anna Paquin is joining the cast of Alias Grace, the anticipated six-part miniseries Sarah Polley is adapting for CBC and Netflix.
The Manitoba-born, New Zealand-raised Paquin will portray Nancy Montgomery, a woman whose murder is central to the tale.
Paquin, most recently seen in the Roots remake, is known for her roles in the cult hit TV series True Blood, the X-Men films and the Academy Award-winning drama The Piano.
"Anna is an incredibly versatile performer who always makes complex, unpredictable and fascinating choices in her work," said Polley, who wrote and is executive producer of the series.
"It's always a marvel to watch her. We're thrilled to have her join the cast."
Based on Margaret Atwood's acclaimed novel, Alias Grace tells story of Grace Marks, the poor Irish immigrant and domestic servant who — along with a stable hand — was convicted of murdering her employer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper and lover, Paquin's character Montgomery.
Toronto's Sarah Gadon was previously announced as the actress set to portray Marks.
Canadian Mary Harron has been tapped to direct the miniseries, which began filming in Ontario this week and will eventually air on CBC and on Netflix, outside of Canada.