Miep Gies was a hero that, up until recently, wasn’t well known. Her fearlessness led her to step up and help the Frank Family during WWII. Now, Nat Geo is telling Miep’s story.
National Geographic’s limited drama series A Small Light premiered two episodes on May 1st. It follows the extraordinary life story of Miep Gies, a charismatic young woman living in Germany during WWII. Once her home transforms in to a country controlled by dictator Adolf Hitler, Miep and her boss Otto Frank work together to escape in to hiding with their loved ones.
We all know the story of Anne Frank. The story of the young Jewish girl hiding in the midst of Hitler’s reign in Nazi Germany has been told many times over, its most famous depiction being what we now know as The Diary of Anne Frank. That may not have been possible without the help of Miep, who kept the diary entries in her desk after Anne’s arrest.
Played by Bel Powley, (The Diary of Teenage Girl, The Morning Show) Miep was also a young woman with a normal life until she wasn’t.
After taking up a job with Otto Frank, Anne’s father, Miep quickly finds herself entangled in a plan to help hide the Frank Family in the secret annex about Otto’s business. Despite protests from those close to her, Miep, along with her husband Jan, make the courageous decision to stand up against hatred and do everything in their power to protect her boss and his family.
The show stars Billie Boullet as Anne Frank, Ashley Brooke as Anne’s older sister Margot, Amira Casar as their mother Edith and Liev Schreiber as Otto. On screen, the four perfectly encapsulate the close familial dynamic between the Franks.
Anne is passionate and outspoken while her sister is the complete opposite. Margot is meek and doesn’t like to rock the boat but when her family needs her the most, she steps up to the plate with no hesitation. A Small Light shares a modern take on history as we know it and shows how just a little bit of bravery can go a long way.
We talked to the cast and showrunners Tony Phelan, Joan Rater and Susan Fogel about the inspiration behind the show and how they were able to accurately portray Miep and the Frank family’s stories.
A Small Light airs every Monday at 9 PM EST on National Geographic and next day on Hulu and Disney+.
