Miniseries · CBC Television
Alias Grace
Who's in it
Cast
The principal ensemble across the run of the series.
Sarah Gadon
Grace Marks
6 eps
Edward Holcroft
Dr. Simon Jordan
6 eps
Rebecca Liddiard
Mary Whitney
6 eps
Zachary Levi
Jeremiah Pontelli
6 eps
Kerr Logan
James McDermott
6 eps
David Cronenberg
Reverend Verrenger
6 eps
Paul Gross
Thomas Kinnear
6 eps
Anna Paquin
Nancy Montgomery
6 eps
Wilson Reynolds
Street Urchin #1
1 eps
Jacob Soley
Michael
1 eps
Jonathan Goad
Grace's Father
1 eps
Martha Burns
Mrs. Parkinson
1 eps
Sarah Manninen
Mrs. Humphrey
1 eps
Elizabeth Saunders
Mrs. Honey
1 eps
Samantha Weinstein
Effie
3 eps
Mag Ruffman
Diane
1 eps
Kate Ross
Agnes
1 eps
John Tench
Keeper #1
4 eps
Jonathan Koensgen
Keeper #2
1 eps
Dylan Trowbridge
Ship's Doctor
1 eps
Diane D'Aquila
Mrs. Quenell
1 eps
Michael Therriault
Mr. McDonald
1 eps
The Nutevio profile
TV DNA
How Alias Grace actually feels to watch, measured on the traits our editors track across every series.
Signature profile
Alias Grace reads strongest on Serialized, Character Depth and Bingeability.
How much each hour depends on the one before it.
How fully written and psychologically layered the ensemble is.
How hard it is to stop after one episode.
How much the series is designed to affect you.
The sustained pressure the series keeps you under.
How often an episode ends on a hook you can't ignore.
Visual ambition — scale, craft and set-piece filmmaking.
The scale, internal logic and texture of the world.
How often the series is genuinely funny, by design.
The story
What it's about
Based on the true story of Grace Marks, a housemaid and immigrant from Ireland who was imprisoned in 1843, perhaps wrongly, for the murder of her employer Thomas Kinnear. Grace claims to have no memory of the murder yet the facts are irrefutable. A decade after, Dr. Simon Jordan tries to help Grace recall her past.
Where the series peaks
Best Episodes
The hours that define the show, ranked by audience response and editorial signal.
S01E04
Part 4
In 1859 Simon becomes intimate with Mrs. Humphrey, while in 1843 Jamie confesses his love for Grace.
- Directed by Mary Harron
- Written by Sarah Polley
S01E02
Part 2
In 1859, Simon dissects the events of the murders, while in 1842 Grace befriends Mary Whitney, whose death from a back-alley abortion traumatizes Grace to the point of hysteria.
- Directed by Mary Harron
- Written by Sarah Polley
S01E01
Part 1
Convicted murderess Grace Marks is interviewed by Dr. Simon Jordan. He becomes conflicted by Grace's enchanting, persuasive nature and her claims of having no memory of the events surrounding the murder.
- Directed by Mary Harron
- Written by Sarah Polley
S01E03
Part 3
In 1859 Simon attempts to extract Grace’s repressed memories of the murders. In 1842 Grace begins work as a servant at the Kinnear farmhouse.
- Directed by Mary Harron
- Written by Sarah Polley
S01E05
Part 5
In 1859 Grace is convinced to try neuro-hypnosis to recover memories.
- Directed by Mary Harron
- Written by Sarah Polley
S01E06
Part 6
In 1859, Simon joins the Union Army, while in 1872 Grace gets unexpected news and makes a decision about her future.
- Directed by Mary Harron
- Written by Sarah Polley
Behind the series
Created by
Showrunners, creators, executive producers and the writers who set the voice of the series.
The craft
Key Crew
Directing, writing, production, camera, music and editing.
Executive production
- Noreen HalpernExecutive Producer
- Mary HarronExecutive Producer
- D.J. CarsonProducer
- Sarah PolleyProducer
Writing
- Sarah PolleyWriter
Direction
- Mary HarronDirector
Cinematography
- Brendan SteacyDirector of Photography
Music
- Jeff DannaOriginal Music Composer
- Mychael DannaOriginal Music Composer
Where to watch
Streaming
Availability verified against regional listings.
- NetflixStreaming
- Netflix Standard with AdsStreaming
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Where to go from here
Watch Next
Our editors' suggestion for the show you should start tonight — and why.
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Never stop watching
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