When Bel Powley got the part of Miep Gies in the new miniseries A Small Light, which debuts on National Geographic on Monday, May 1, and will stream the next day on Disney+ and Hulu, it was meant to be. “I met with director Susanna Fogel a few years back about a different project, and I loved meeting with her. We stayed in touch and she offered me this part. It came to me on Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was pretty special. I’m Jewish, so I was immediately intrigued by this project,” the 31-year-old exclusively tells GRAZIA USA.
The true story focuses on Miep, who helps hide her employer, Otto Frank (Anne Frank‘s family), from the Nazis during World War II. Though Anne Frank’s story has been told in many forms, A Small Light is different as it centers on how brave Miep was for attempting to shelter the brood away from danger. “When I read the pilot, I was blown away by how contemporary it felt, even though it’s a part of history we know too well. It felt like a fresh way to tell the story, so I immediately said, ‘I would love to be part of it,'” the actress explains.
In order for Powley to get into the right headspace, she flew to Amsterdam, where Anne spent most of her life. “Amsterdam is kind of a character in the show itself, and it’s such an iconic city that operates in a very specific way. I got on a plane and then got on a bike and started cycling around,” she shares. “I cycled Miep’s route to work from her apartment, and I cycled the route she took Anne’s sister Margo through the checkpoint. I took a private tour of the Anne Frank House, which I hadn’t been to before. I did all of that before I went to Prague and started doing hair and makeup.”
“I wanted to immerse myself in the city and feel what it was like to be there. I also read Anne Frank Remembered, which Miep wrote with Alison Leslie Gold. The book is a firsthand account of the events that happened, and I found that incredibly useful,” she says. “You get a sense of her vivaciousness, playfulness and sassiness from the pages.”
Since Miep is based on a real person, Powley was “aware of the responsibility” she had of bringing her to life. “It’s also a part of history that means a lot to people,” she says. “I felt a responsibility to do it differently. We all know about Anne Frank’s diary, but this time around, we wanted to make sure people connected to the story. Otherwise what’s the point? I was striving to make this feel as contemporary as possible — and make it feel relatable.”
Of course, the material was “emotionally taxing” for Powley and the cast, but she notes when Miep is first introduced in the series, she’s a “young directionless woman” who is newly in love. “I thought that was a good way to make people connect to this part of history in a different kind of way and that part was fun,” she recalls. “Then it gets a bit dark from there. The first three episodes were the more fun ones to film. I also loved my costumes. It was so much easier to access this character through the clothes Matthew Simonelli put me in.”
At the end of the day, the U.K. native is hopeful this will resonate with young audiences who may not know about this time period. “There are so many parallels between the forties and what is going on now in the world,” she notes. “We’re living through the biggest refugee crisis the world has ever seen, antisemitism is on the rise and there’s a war in Europe. In some ways, it’s a cautionary tale. It’s important we show everything from the beginning. History has a way of repeating itself.”
“I want people to see what this incredible woman did, and I want everyone to see themselves in her,” she continues of Miep. “Anyone can do good and turn on a small light in a dark room. There’s always small acts of kindness that can make the world a better place.”
Additionally, working with Liev Schreiber, who plays Otto Frank, was a highlight for Powley. “I learned so much from him,” she says. “He’s such an incredible actor. We got along really well and seeing him work the way he does was fascinating. He can think of a scene from a different point of view — he can see the whole thing as a whole. Working with Liev and Joe Cole, who plays Jan Gies, was amazing. They’re two of my favorite actors I’ve ever worked with, to be honest.”
Though it’s “scary” that A Small Light is almost out in the world, the brunette beauty is trying not to get overwhelmed by it all. “I want to focus on the experience rather than thinking about how it will be received and what people will think. It was an incredible experience and so fulfilling. These kinds of stories don’t come around that often, so I am holding onto that.”
The story also means a lot to Powley as her grandma, who died during the COVID-19 pandemic, would have been “so proud” of her role in the series. “It makes it a little bit more special,” she notes.
As for what the future holds, Powley is interested in dabbling in other genres. “I like variety. A comedy could be fun. I enjoy doing comedy and drama, but maybe I need a minute from another World War II show,” she quips. “I just wrapped another movie. It’s a dystopian romance, and I’m excited for that to come out too.”
A Small Light debuts on Monday, May 1, at 9 p.m. ET on National Geographic.
