ATLANTA  — Thandie Newton doesn’t shy away from the idea that she might be a role model.

As she takes on a leading television role, she hopes to empower women like the stars who have come before her — Kerry Washington, Regina King and Anika Noni Rose among them.

“They have empowered many,” said Newton, a racially mixed actress who is of British and Zimbabwean decent. “Empowerment anywhere leads to empowerment everywhere. The world is changing at a pace where it needs to be. That’s how I feel, and I’m proud to be a part of this movement.”

The 40-year-old actress will star in the dramatic series, “Rogue,” which premieres Wednesday night on DirecTV’s in-house channel Audience Network. It’ll be DirecTV’s first venture into original programming, and the third series to air on Audience along with “Friday Night Lights” and “Damages.”