A Bermudian actress is to play the lover and indentured slave of US President Thomas Jefferson in a History Channel special.

Kellie McCants is the daughter of former St. George's resident Phyllis Dowling-McCants.

Ms McCants will play Sally Hemmings in historical reenactments as part of the production of 'Jefferson', which is scheduled to premiere on August 24.

Sally Hemmings became an important figure in American history after Jefferson's political opponents alleged that he carried out a long affair with her.

The affair spawned a CBS mini-series and the film 'Jefferson in Paris', in which Ms Hemmings was portrayed by Thandie Newton.

While few historians supported the rumoured affair, genetic tests in 1998 confirmed that Jefferson fathered at least one of Ms Hemming's children.

Ms McCants has performed in numerous stage productions in New York and the Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. She has also appeared in films and television programmes.

She was raised in Virginia and now lives in New York.

• 'Jefferson' will air on the History Channel on August 24 at 9 a.m. Bermuda time.