Alias Grace is a new historical crime drama series that was aired on Netflix for the first time on November 3, 2017. It is based on the true story of a housemaid called Grace Marks, an Irish immigrant, who was jailed for the murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear in 1843. It is believed that it was possible that Marks was of guilty of this crime. The story is about how the facts of the murder all point towards Grace yet she has no recollection of the murder taking place. A decade after the murder, she is helped in trying to recollect the facts by Dr. Simon Jones. This interesting series will attract viewers who prefer the genres period dramas and crime series. Here are five things you might not know about Alias Grace.
1. It is Based on a Biographical Novel
The television series is based on a novel of the same name that was written by author Margaret Atwood. She based the novel on a true crime story but also added some elements of fiction. Atwood is also the author of ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’. This novel was also turned into a television series. It is about a woman forced to live as a concubine and is set in a dystopian future. It starred Elisabeth Moss, Yvonne Strahovski, and Joseph Fiennes.
2. Unusual Promotional Methods Were Used
Like many films and television series, promotional methods were put in place to attract viewers. The methods used were somewhat unusual. Although they used traditional techniques, such as advertisements on Netflix telling viewers what to expect from the series, they also took a unique approach to promotion. In the months leading up to the show premiering, 70 copies of the ‘Alias Grace’ book were hidden around Canada. These included a short note written by the author, Margaret Atwood.
3. It has Taken 20 Years for the Story to Make It Onto TV
The book was released in 1996 and Sarah Polley, the writer and producer of the television series, tried to acquire the rights to the novel straight away. However, she was unsuccessful. It took many attempts before she achieved this meaning it took just over 20 years for the miniseries based on the novel to come to fruition.
4. Some Characters Are Fictional
Although the story is based on a true historical event, some elements of the book and the television series have been fictionalized and this includes the creation of fictional characters. One example of this is Dr. Simon Jordan who author Margaret Atwood created in the novel.
5. Sarah Gadon Plays the Lead Role
Sarah Gadon plays Grace Marks in ‘Alias Grace’. Gadon was born in Toronto on April 4, 1987. She was in the mini-series ‘11.22.63’ and the 2016 film ‘Indignation’. She filmed three films consecutively that were directed by David Cronenberg. These were ‘A Dangerous Method’, ‘Cosmopolis’, and ‘Maps to the Stars’. Gadon was also in the 2012 film ‘Antiviral’ that was directed by David Cronenberg’s son, Brandon Cronenberg. Others who star in ‘Alias Grace’ include Edward Holcroft, Rebecca Liddiard, Zachary Levi, and Kerr Logan.
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