Crosby Fitzgerald, by account, is a rising star. She has several successful projects credited to her name, including the hit TV series The First Lady.

However, when Netflix offered her the role of the well-known Caroline Ingalls, the actress had second thoughts.

It is expected because not only was Ingalls a noted American woman, but she also shot to stardom after her daughter Laura Ingalls Wilder’s written books about her, spotlighting her remarkable traditional motherhood role.

Being such a devoted mother and immortalization afterward earned her the “Ma” nickname.

Later, TV series adapted the books, for example, 1974 drama Little House on the Prairie, where Ingalls was portrayed by Karen Grassle.

Given such a towering role, Fitzgerald admitted to having questioned herself because Ingalls was known for being calm and resilient, while her demeanour stands in direct contrast

“What I knew of her even from the books was, I’m not sure that I can do this, person. I consider myself sort of brash and loud and annoying,” she told People.

“And she’s so poised and elegant from what I remember from the books.”

However, her perspective switched when she read the script.

“I was just so impressed with how layered she was and fierce and still very grounded and still very poised under pressure considering”, she added.

Fitzgerald said the deeper she dug into Ingalls’ life, the more she discovered about her as a fearless and courteous matriarch.

“I was like, ‘Wait, she forges this river and then breaks her foot all while she’s pregnant and doing this on her own?

“She pulls a shotgun on a wolf?’ I was just like, ‘Okay … I can maybe do this person.”

Little House on the Prairie season one is streaming on Netflix.