Anna Paquin joins ensemble cast of Netflix’s ‘Alias Grace’

TORONTO, Aug. 16 (UPI) — True Blood icon Anna Paquin has signed on to play Nancy Montgomery in the screen adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s novel Alias Grace, Netflix announced Tuesday.

Written and produced by Sarah Polley, the six-hour miniseries is based on the true story of Grace Marks, the 19th-century woman convicted of murdering her employer Thomas Kinnear and his housekeeper/lover Montgomery. Filming is now underway in Ontario.

“Anna is an incredibly versatile performer who always makes complex, unpredictable and fascinating choices in her work,” Polley said in a statement. “It’s always a marvel to watch her and we’re thrilled to have her join the cast.”

Alias Grace — with Sarah Gadon playing the title character — will be broadcast in Canada on CBC and everywhere outside of Canada on Netflix.

Paquin’s other credits include the X-Men movie franchise, the miniseries Roots and the film The Piano, for which she won an Oscar.