Michael, who plays plantation owner Edwin Epps in the film, admitted he had a 'lump in his throat' when he spoke to the youngster, who plays the daughter of slave Patsey.

He told Empire: 'She was so sweet, that little girl, because we did the scene and I come running out, screaming and yelling, and she got really frightened and started crying.

'I was like "This is make-believe, we were playing pretend and everything's OK" and we took her out of the scene.

'After that I was getting ready to go back into the scene again and I was... getting into the headspace, pacing around a bit and she stood in the doorway. And she goes "Are you OK?"'

The actor went on: 'I almost started crying. I had a lump in my throat. I was like, "I'm just getting ready" and she was like "OK". And then she just sat down and watched me, like she was there to support me. It broke my heart.'