Oscar and Golden Globe-winning actress Anna Paquin (“The Piano,” “True Blood”) is joining the Netflix miniseries “Alias Grace,” based on Margaret Atwood’s novel of the same name.

Paquin will play Nancy Montgomery alongside Sarah Gadon’s lead Grace Marks. The project is based on a true story. Grace, a poor, young Irish immigrant and domestic servant in Upper Canada who, along with stable hand James McDermott, was convicted of the brutal murders of their employers, Thomas Kinnear and Nancy Montgomery in 1843. Paquin’s character Nancy “was Kinnear’s housekeeper and lover, and while she initially befriends Grace, she begins to resent Grace and becomes increasingly jealous of Kinnear’s affection for her. Nancy eventually fires Grace in a fit of rage and is later found brutally murdered.”

The miniseries was written and produced by Sarah Polley (“Stories We Tell”) and will be directed by Mary Harron (“American Psycho”). Production began in Canada just yesterday.

“Anna is an incredibly versatile performer who always makes complex, unpredictable and fascinating choices in her work,” said Polley in a statement. “It’s always a marvel to watch her and we’re thrilled to have her join the cast.”