A women holding a candle with a black background

Everything you need to know about A Small Light

A mixture of excitement and doubt brewed when National Geographic announced the premise for A Small Light. Although there has been movies and TV shows about Anne Frank, A Small Light gives us the unique perspective from those that helped to hide the Jewish residents of the Secret Annex – particularly Miep Gies. Many people questioned how you can make a show about Anne Frank with her playing such a minor role in the show. Well, they couldn’t have been more wrong!

10/05/2024

What is A Small Light about?

This four episode mini-series gives an excellent portrayal into exactly how the Jewish residents of the annex managed to survived for so long during the Nazi invasion. Combining information from Annes diary as well as Miep Gies’s autobiography this show gives such a realistic portrayal that you can’t help but get emotionally attached.

Miep Gies (Bel Powely) was very close with the Frank family ever since they fled from Germany, particularly due to her German roots herself. Therefore, when Otto Frank (Liev Schreiber) asked for her help she said yes, no questions asked. However, her actions impacted not only her relationship with her husband Jan (Joe Cole), but it also affected her friendships and livelihood. With Nazis everywhere, how exactly did the Franks stay safe for so long?

Otto Frank and Miep Gies crossing the road

Who is starring in A Small Light and where have you seen them previously?

Bel Powely will play Miep Gies. Starting her career as Daisy in M.I. High she has gone on to feature in many films such as Ashes in the snow where she played the role of Lina Vilkas.
Joe Cole will play Jan Gies. Joe took to the role very well. He’s most known for his role of John Shelby in Peaky Blinders.
Billie Boullet will play Anne Frank. For her second acting role she did amazingly. She began her career as Fennella in Season 4 of the Worst Witch.
Liev Schreiber will play Otto Frank. Looking very different from his pervious acting positions, he has prosthetics making him look a spitting image of the real Otto Frank. Liev is best known as Ray Donovan in Ray Donavon.
Eleanor Tomlinson will play Tess. Best known as Demelza in Poldark.

"But even an ordinary secretary or a housewife or a teenager can, within their own small ways, turn on a small light in a dark room." Miep Gies

Where to watch?

Save the date! The show premieres on the 23rd May at 9pm on the Drama channel (channel 158)! With just four parts this is definitely a bingeworthy show!

You'll be able to stream all four episodes on the 23rd May on UKTV Play!