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Anika Noni Rose explains feeling the spirits on the set of ‘Roots’

Anika Noni Rose talks about feeling the spirits during the filming of the new “Roots.”

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Anika Noni Rose, one of the stars of History’s acclaimed reboot of the slavery saga “Roots,” called her involvement in the making of the project a spiritual experience that profoundly moved her in ways she never expected.

In a video chat for The Envelope, Rose said there were times when she actually felt there were spirits on the New Orleans set that would manifest themselves through mysterious winds that would abruptly start and then suddenly stop.

“There were times that you knew you were not alone, and that the story you were telling was not about you,” said the actress, who played Kizzy, the daughter of Kunta Kinte, the young African warrior who was captured by slave traders and brought to America.

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She added, “It was about and for all who came before you and made the opportunity for you to tell a story, for you to be able to be in a film and be in a position when someone is coming up to fix a button or put lotion on your ankle or whatever you need.”

Rose said the story of “Roots” is timeless and essential. “It’s so much bigger than me and us.”

See our full interview with Rose below:

Anika Noni Rose chats with The Times’ Yvonne Villarreal about the retelling of the TV movie “Roots.”

yvonne.villarreal@latimes.com

Twitter: @villarrealy

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