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HomeTVBel Powley’s Performance in ‘A Small Light’ Episode 8 Finale

Bel Powley’s Performance in ‘A Small Light’ Episode 8 Finale


THE PERFORMER | Bel Powley

THE SHOW | National Geographic’s A Small Light

THE EPISODE |Legacy” (May 22, 2023)

THE PERFORMANCE | You know how some shows, and some performances, stick with you well past the closing credits? That’s how we feel about Powley’s turn as Miep Gies in the limited series, which reframed Anne Frank’s well-known story by spotlighting the people who risked everything to hide the teen and her family.

While we’d especially like to focus on Powley’s deeply affecting work in Monday’s finale, we also need to take a step back and give the Morning Show alum credit for her portrayal throughout the show’s eight-episode run. A Small Light worked so well because Powley was immediately lovable as Gies — both as the floundering young woman we met at the start of the show and the steely member of the resistance she grew into by the end. She invited audiences in by letting every one of Miep’s emotions play out on her face, the character’s inability to cover disgust or outrage communicated nimbly via Powley’s deeply expressive eyes. This was especially fun to watch at the beginning of Miep’s relationship with Otto Frank (played by Liev Schreiber), where the slightly sassy patina Powley’s gave her character provided a fun foil for the quiet and serious Mr. Frank.

Which brings us back to that finale, which gave Powley an array of great stuff to play. A few of our favorite bits: Miep’s bravery as she marched into Nazi headquarters, Powley’s shoulders set in grim determination as her character attempted to bribe guards to let the Franks and their friends go. The way Powley had Miep’s frustration with hunger and the lack of wartime rations melt into relief at the Allied food drop. (The bliss with which she ate that piece of chocolate!) And most stirringly, the mix of devastation and love — tears blended with a wide-eyed hopefulness, in spite of everything — brought to the scenes with Schreiber as their characters came to terms with everyone they’d lost.

Scroll down to see who scored Honorable Mention shout-outs this week…




This story originally appeared on TVLine

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