Margaret Atwood says upcoming ‘Alias Grace’ TV series gave her ‘real nightmares’

TORONTO – Margaret Atwood says the upcoming TV adaptation of her acclaimed historical novel “Alias Grace” is “very powerful” and gave her “real nightmares.”

The literary legend is among the stars discussing new projects at the Toronto International Film Festival.

Atwood was joined at a press conference by screenwriter Sarah Polley, who says the six-part series arrives at “an interesting moment for women.”

Sarah Gadon stars as Grace Marks, a young Irish immigrant and maid convicted of murder in Upper Canada in 1843. She was exonerated after about 30 years behind bars.

It’s yet another major small-screen adaptation of Atwood’s work this year, following “The Handmaid’s Tale” on Bravo, about a totalitarian society where women are property of the state.

“Alias Grace” begins airing Sept. 25 on CBC-TV and will stream internationally on Netflix.

“I think with ‘Alias Grace’ we can look back to where we’ve come from as women, and ‘Handmaid’s Tale’ is this cautionary tale of where we could be going,” Polley said Tuesday at a festival press conference.

“We’re in this space in between and I think it’s a really important conversation to have, not just out loud and with each other and articulately but lingering in the background of our minds.”