Shailyn Pierre-Dixon on CBC’s ‘The Book of Negroes’ mini-series

Author Lawrence Hill’s award-winning, emotional novel, The Book of Negroes, is a lesson in the hardships and struggles of a dark part of the world’s history, and tonight, the epic television adaptation of the story makes its debut on CBC at 9:00 PM (ET), and 9:30 PM (NT).

The six-part miniseries, which is based on a real historical document, tells the story of a young girl, Aminata Diallo, who is taken into slavery as a child in West Africa, and then shipped off to America where her hardships only grow under the oppressive confines of her forced servitude to people who can be both cruel and terrifying.

Aunjanue Ellis stars as the grown-up Aminata Diallo, while Shailyn Pierre-Dixon plays the role of the young Aminata. CBC’s miniseries also stars Lyriq Bent, Greg Byrk, Allan Hawco, Cuba Gooding Jr., Amy Louise Wilson, Jane Alexander, Cara Ricketts, Sandra Caldwell, Ben Chaplin, and Lou Gossett Jr., to name a few.

Recently I had an opportunity to interview Pierre-Dixon about making The Book of Negroes, what it was like playing the tremendous role, and how the story was adapted for the screen. Watch the interview below to see what she had to say.