Finite Films & TV today announces it has optioned the work of Jean-Noël Liaut, The Many Lives of Miss K, for a TV adaption. The series will depict the life of iconic fashion model and WWII secret agent, Toto Koopman, based on Liaut’s biography.
Born to a Dutch cavalry officer father and a half Indonesian mother, Koopman’s mixed heritage exposed her to discrimination and prejudice that shaped her worldview.
20 years on, Koopman arrived in Paris in the 1930s, soon making history as the first model of mixed race to be featured on French Vogue. Koopman continued to challenge cultural norms throughout her life; she was open about her bisexuality and her relationships with high profile socialites such as actress Tallulah Bankhead and media mogul Lord Beaverbrook.
As World War II engulfed Europe, she leveraged her social connections and multilingual abilities to gather intelligence for the Allied forces in Italy. However, this dangerous double life led to her capture by the fascists in 1941. Held in various detention camps, Koopman was to be deported to Germany but escaped and rejoined the Resistance. In 1944, she was caught spying on high-ranking German officers and sent by the Nazis to the notorious women’s concentration camp at Ravensbrück, where she was one of the few that survived.
The Many Lives of Miss K bolsters Finite Films & TV’s growing scripted slate, which includes the psychological horror The Fears from Doctor Who director Andrew Gunn which is currently in development. The news on this option follows the launch of the company’s additional Belfast base.
Amy Gardner, Founder and Producer at Finite Films & TV says “As Jean-Noël Liaut details in his beautifully written biography, Toto Koopman lived a life that transcended the boundaries of gender, race, class, and convention. The aim of this adaption is to explore the character of this fearless, independent, complex, indestructible and life-loving woman. We’re delighted to have this project as part of our expanding portfolio and it’s a privilege bringing her story to the screen.”
Pippa Considine
Share this story
