Smithsonian Channel Celebrates Women's History Month with Two New Premieres

Smithsonian Channel is celebrating Women's History Month with new specials that highlight two of the most courageous and independent-spirited women of their time, both leaving a lasting impression for centuries to follow.

VICTORIAN REBEL - MARIANNE NORTH remembers one of the most adventurous female explorers and botanists of all time in a story of obsession, tragedy and ultimately triumph in Victorian England.

POCAHONTAS: BEYOND THE MYTH revisits the life of a legendary woman whose story continues to gain new resonance over time, even now on the 400-year anniversary of her death in March 1617.

At a time when women barely left their parlor rooms, Marianne North's daring documentation of the world's rarest plants propelled her to the top of a male-dominated world. Facing down Amazonian mudslides, starvation in Japan, and delirium in the Seychelles, North left an astounding legacy complete with new discoveries and records of now extinct species. VICTORIAN REBEL - MARIANNE NORTH, a one-hour special, tracks the footsteps of a feminist icon living at the height of the British EMPIRE - reliving her jaw-dropping adventures and recognizing her unbelievable achievements in the face of adversity.

Actress and North-admirer Emilia FOX - best known for her roles on the BBC series Silent Witness andMerlin (NBC/Syfy) - takes us to the awe-inspiring locations of some of North's greatest moments, and the film uses stunning drama reconstructions and North's personal memoirs, letters and paintings to retell her amazing story - one of a Victorian rebel who rejected marriage and social convention to lead a pioneering life of conservation and exploration.

Pocahontas has been a household name since her death 400 years ago - the most famous Native American woman in history. Her daring rescue of John Smith is enshrined in the dome of the U.S. Capitol as a symbol of democracy itself. But how much of her story is myth? How much is reality? And what is it that has made her so enduring?

Using expert interviews with authors, historians, curators and the current Chief of Pocahontas' tribe - the Pamunkey - along with archival images and historical recreations, POCAHONTAS: BEYOND THE MYTH traces the true tale of this princess, peacemaker and ambassador. Along the way, it examines how the story of her life has been told through the centuries - who embellished it, how it evolved, and what it means to us today. Hers is a story we tell ourselves about America - a founding mother who still defines us.

VICTORIAN REBEL - MARIANNE NORTH premieres on Wednesday, March 8 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. It is produced by Dan Chambers for Blink Films and Warner Sisters Productions. Charles Poe, David Royle and Joy Galane serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

POCAHONTAS: BEYOND THE MYTH premieres on Monday, March 27 at 8 p.m. ET/PT. It is produced by Biscuit Factory for Smithsonian Networks. Rob Lyall and Molly Herman are executive producers for Biscuit Factory. John Cavanagh and David Royle serve as executive producers for Smithsonian Channel.

Smithsonian Channel™, owned by Smithsonian Networks™, a joint venture between Showtime Networks Inc. and the Smithsonian Institution, is where CURIOSITY lives, inspiration strikes and wonders never cease. This is the place for awe-inspiring stories, powerful documentaries and amazing entertainment across multiple platforms. Smithsonian Channel combines the storytelling prowess of SHOWTIME® with the unmatched resources and rich traditions of the Smithsonian, to create award-winning programming that shines new light on popular genres such as air and space, history, science, nature, and pop culture. Among the network's offerings are series including Aerial America, Million Dollar American Princesses, Polar Bear Town, The Weapon Hunter, The Lost Tapes, Mighty Ships, Mighty Planes and Air Disasters, as well as critically-acclaimed specials that include Building Star Trek, The Unknown Flag Raiser of Iwo Jima,MLK: The Assassination Tapes, and The Day KENNEDY Died. Smithsonian Networks also operates Smithsonian Earth™, through SN Digital LLC., a new subscription video streaming service delivering spectacular original nature and wildlife content. To learn more, go to www.smithsonianchannel.com, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

Image courtesy of the Smithsonian Channel.

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