‘A Small Light’ Highlights the Unsung Heroes of World War II

A Small Light, the new eight-part National Geographic series for Disney+, is based on an inspiring true story and shines a light on Miep Gies, a young, carefree, and opinionated woman who lived in a time when certain thoughts could get one killed.

Set in 1942 Amsterdam, Miep was a secretary who helped hide Anne Frank and her family from the Nazis during World War II after being approached by Anne’s father, Otto. Agreeing without hesitation, she and her daring husband, Jan, along with several others, watched over the Franks, van Pels, and Pfeffer families as they hid in a secret annex.

Remarkable and harrowing, A Small Light has been praised by fans and critics alike, showcasing an uplifting story of human resilience and bravery.

The series stars Bel Powley, Joe Cole, Liev Schreiber, and Laurie Kynaston, whom OFM had the opportunity to sit down and chat with. Kynaston portrays Miep’s brother, Casmir Niewenburg, who is a closeted gay man and keeps his sexuality hidden from his family. In addition to talking more about the show and his character, Kynaston also touches on why he wanted to be involved with this project, how the show is a fresh take on history, and how he hoped to honor Cas’ voice.

For those who have not yet checked out A Small Light, what makes the series worth watching?

I think it’s worth watching because it tells a version of the story that you think you know, from another point of view, and it’s told with empathy, kindness, and humor. I think anybody in a family could watch it and have something to relate to.

We all know who Anne Frank is, but there are very few who have heard of Miep Gies. Do you have a theory as to why her story hasn’t been told as much?

Obviously, Anne’s story was catastrophically sad, so everybody knew about it. This incredible 14-year-old girl who spoke with such light and spirit, and she was so conversational. She was me, you, and everybody who read her diary. I think it struck everybody that, wow, she really was us, and that could be us at another time. But I think with Miep, although she was kind of ordinary and someone that was caught up in this extraordinary time, she had a bit more control over the story.

Of course, Anne wasn’t there to determine where her story was going to go, and I think Miep never wanted to be somebody who was searching for the limelight or wanted to be called a hero. She didn’t search for anything like that, but I think it’s a rare side of a war story to hear. One about compassion, kindness, and selflessness, and that’s probably why it’s not told very often.

In A Small Light, you play Casmir Nieuwenburg, Miep’s brother. What can you tell us about this character?

Cas is Miep’s brother, as you say, and I think he is somebody who she can confide in. He’s quite a nice person throughout the story, and I think he kind of sums up her normal, non-Jewish-hiding life. He’s just darting around being his day-to-day self, and I think he sums up what her life could have been. He’s lovely, and he also confides in her because there’s a lot going on in his life as well. Cas and Miep have some great scenes together, and being able to do them with Bel Powley, who plays Miep, was just so wonderful. This was a fabulous part to play.

Cas is also closeted, is that correct?

Yes. Apart from Miep, he is closeted to the outside world. They have a very special sibling bond, so they can talk about those things, whereas he wouldn’t be safe to talk about that with anyone else.

Why did you want to be involved with this project, and what appealed you to the role?

When I was approached, it was already a fantastic production. I think Bel, Liev Schreiber, and Joe Cole were already attached; Joan Rater and Tony Phelan were the writers, and Susanna Fogel was directing, and this all came through in the first email for me. It’s one of those things where you think, well, this is quite an exciting one. It’s classy; they’ve got the right people behind it, and they clearly have a lot of trust in this project.

Nanw Rowlands was casting it, and I’ve met with Nanw a few times. She’s a fellow Welsh, so we have a nice connection there, and that’s another thing. If Nanw’s doing it, and all these other people are behind it, then it’s definitely something I should consider. So, I sent in a self-tape, but I did it when I was on a cruise in Norway with my best friend. We had no Wi-Fi or signal, and my phone didn’t do videos, so I had to use his phone. It was dreadful (laughs). I thought I was never going to hear back from anyone because I could barely see or hear myself in a windowless cabin in Norway, but it did go through, and I heard back from Nanw. I was absolutely delighted.

All the characters portrayed in A Small Light were real people, and during Hitler’s regime, LGBTQ people were often persecuted, sent to concentration camps, and killed. What did you want to bring to the role of Cas, and how did you want to honor his voice?

I think it was important to bring his kind of normalcy in a time that he had no control over. He was dating people; he had crushes on people, and he went to a gay bar in Amsterdam, which was so dangerous at that time. It was amazing to be able to visit Café ‘t Mandje, and I actually have a funny story about that. I was walking through Amsterdam’s red-light district one evening, and it was quite busy, so I popped into this bar. It was the first place I came across that looked quiet outside; it looked vintage inside, and everybody looked nice.

I went in and had a beer, and I spoke to the people behind the bar. It was clearly very queer-friendly, but not overt. It was just like, this is a safe space for people, and the design was fabulous. I was like, wow, it feels like I stepped back in time here. I stayed for a few hours and had a couple more drinks, and the next day, I met up with Bel, telling her how I went to this amazing bar last night and that she really needed to check it out because it’s the best place I’ve been in Amsterdam.

I was like, let me just look at my bank statement, so I can tell you where I was because I didn’t know what it was called. I looked at my bank statement, and it turns out I was in Café ‘t Mandje all night without knowing that’s where I was. I don’t know, but there was something in the Amsterdam air that night, and the universe took me to that very spot. It was very, very special. So, when it came to shooting the scenes there, which we shot in Prague, our amazing set designer recreated the bar; it felt like I was already in this home where I could feel safe. That was pretty awesome.

May I ask, do you identify as LGBTQ yourself?

I would definitely say that I’m somewhere in the community. It’s a very trying time at the moment, and I think what A Small Light teaches people, and hopefully shows people, is that kind of everyday common bravery. It’s priceless, and we can all do it. We can all stand up for brothers and sisters who are being persecuted. You don’t have to be a hero, and it doesn’t have to be someone famous. Whether you’re in the community or not, rally behind your friends, and help make people feel safe again. It’s a very scary time out there.

Is that also kind of what you ultimately hope audiences take away from A Small Light?

Yes! I hope people realize that bravery and kindness is an option, even in a really dark time. Anybody can do it and you don’t have to be special. It just needs to be inside you, and it can come in any shape or size.

In addition to its quiet power, the series has been praised for not looking or feeling like a dated, dusty, historical rehash. Would you agree?

Absolutely, and I think that comes from Tony and Joan’s perfect, succinct, hilarious, and heartbreaking writing. I think they were very keen to not make another historical drama where everybody says, ‘Hello, darling. Good morning. How are you?’ and actually speak like people speak because that’s what Anne did in her diary. I remember listening to the audiobook; Helena Bonham Carter reads it, and she’s fantastic, I was listening to it for this job, and I just couldn’t believe how candid she was.

Anne would be like, “I think all the remaining Jews are being rounded up to be taken to the concentration camps, but anyway, Mrs. van Pels is really annoying me because she had the last of the bread, and that’s the third time she’s done that this week.” That literally sums everything up. She’s in this remarkable time and they must be petrified every day, but when you’re living day-to-day in lockdown, you don’t notice everything that’s happening outside.

You’re focused on what is happening in your four walls, and I think that’s what Tony and Joan did so well. They brought humor, charm, and that human element to a script that could otherwise be, as you say, a bit stuffy.

How did your journey with acting begin? Has this always been your passion?

It has definitely always been my passion, but when I turned 18, I wasn’t quite sure about what I wanted to do. Growing up in North Wales in the countryside, I didn’t know anybody else who was an actor, and I didn’t really know how to do it. But I was part of a fabulous youth theater, and I got the title role in this play called The Winslow boy, which is a Terence Rattigan play.

It was my first job, a three-month contract, and I rehearsed with all these amazing actors. The show did very well, so off the back of that, I was able to kind of write to agents and move to London. So, I moved to London when I was 19 and got to work. I found myself an agent and have been very lucky to tell some wonderful stories, A Small Light very much being one of them.

What are some future goals you hope to accomplish with your career?

Oh, that’s a good question. I feel very lucky that I have been able to do quite a bit of West End theatre work in the last few years. Theater is also a big passion of mine, and obviously, the Broadway scene is the dream for many, but it is absolutely a dream for me. I would love to do a play in New York, and I just hope to carry on with what I’m doing. I have collaborated with some very incredible voices in our industry, and I will continue to strive to make good work.

Before we wrap up, are there any other upcoming projects or anything else you’d like to mention or plug?

I’ve got a show coming out on Paramount+, maybe at the end of this year, called The Doll Factory, which is going to be cool. It’s set in Victorian London, and I’m playing one of the members of the Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood. It’s a bit different, more Gothic, creepy, and weird, but it’s going to be so good. I’m also currently shooting something for Netflix called Fool Me Once, which is a Harlan Coben project. I’m doing that with Dame Joanna Lumley, and that will probably be out next year. Just keep your eyes peeled!

Stay up-to-date and connect with Kynaston by following him on Instagram @lauriekynaston. A Small Light is now streaming on Disney+.

Photos courtesy of National Geographic for Disney/Dusan Martincek