If you’ve been watching “Mercy Street” on PBS the last two weeks, you’ve seen Hannah James in action as the Southern belle Emma Green. Based on a real individual, Green is the daughter of the family whose home in Alexandria, Virginia, is taken over by the Union Army for a hospital during the Civil War.

Like her character, Hannah James grew up in Virginia and was excited that this role landed her a mere hour away from her childhood home. I recently interviewed James to learn her thoughts about how her Virginian background influenced her performance as Emma Green.

What drew you to the role of Emma Green? What is your favorite thing about playing her?

Emma is a feisty, courageous young woman, eager to make an impact and have her voice heard. She speaks for many young women of the time period who struggled with upholding their Southern belle values while wanting to do their part for the cause. Emma can be seen as an idol for girls of her time period as well as today, standing up for what she believes in a man’s world.