Sarah Gadon lands lead in Netflix's 'Alias Grace' miniseries

TORONTO, June 29 (UPI) -- Canadian actress Sarah Gadon is to play Grace Marks in the small-screen adaptation of Margaret Atwood's historical novel Alias Grace.

Halfire Entertainment, CBC and Netflix announced the casting Tuesday for the six-part miniseries, which was written and is being produced by actress-filmmaker Sarah Polley.

Director Mary Harron is to begin shooting the project in Ontario in August. Alias Grace will be broadcast in Canada on CBC and will stream globally on Netflix.

Based on a true story, it follows "a poor, young Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who, along with stable hand James McDermott, was convicted of the brutal murders of their employer, Thomas Kinnear, and his housekeeper, Nancy Montgomery, in 1843," a synopsis said. "James was hanged while Grace was sentenced to life imprisonment. Grace was one of the most enigmatic and notorious women of her time for her supposed role in the sensational double murder, but was eventually exonerated after 30 years in jail. Her conviction was controversial and sparked much debate about whether Grace was actually involved in the murder or merely an unwitting accessory."

Gadon's credits include Indignation, 11.22.63 and Enemy.