Anna Paquin a lifesaver in "Sendler Story" for CBS

By Kimberly Nordyke

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Oscar winner Anna Paquin will play a Holocaust heroine in "The Irena Sendler Story," a Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation for CBS.

Sendler, a Polish woman credited with saving the lives of thousands of Jewish children during World War II, died in May at age 98.

The film goes into production next month in Latvia, for an April premiere. It is based on the book "Mother of the Children of the Holocaust: The Irena Sendler Story," by Anna Mieszkowska.

Paquin co-stars on HBO's vampire drama "True Blood," which was recently picked up for a second season. She won an Oscar for her supporting role in "The Piano."

Reuters/Hollywood Reporter