As the titular character in Hulu’s limited series “Washington Black,” Ernest Kingsley, Jr., has enormous responsibility as he earns immediate international recognition.

“Washington Black,” adapted from the same-named bestselling book, tracks the 19th-century odyssey of George Washington “Wash” Black. We meet him at 11, a boy born on a Barbados sugar plantation whose scientific brilliance propels him to remarkable heights.

Naturally, for such a pivotal role, Kingsley, 24, faced, “A long audition process. Like, two months. Including a ‘chemistry’ reading with Sterling K. Brown” — who costars and serves as an executive producer. “For that, I was like, ‘Oh! my God’ — but it was really cool.”

As to who exactly George Washington Black is, “He’s this incredible, curious-minded, intelligent, just wondrous young man who has this gift of science, a gift of inventing and creating.

“Obviously, he’s born into difficult situations. Then he goes on this incredible adventure.”

Historical fiction asks: How is it relevant? What specifically does it say about our world today?

“The main one I’d say is this thing of identity. So many characters in ‘Washington Black’ live double lives. They are struggling with who they want to be and who the world says they should be.

“That’s potent in today’s society as well. I feel like we need more of a conversation about the freedom to be who you are, to do what you want to do. And also this thing of finding love.

“At his main core, Washington Black is just a person who sees more for themselves, who dares to dream and imagine.”

Kingsley’s professional journey began, he said in a Zoom interview, “When I was 13. I did the whole acting class thing. My mom pushed me into it — it was just something that I always loved doing.

“And I was like, ‘You know what? I feel like it’s possible.’ And my mum thought the same thing, and very graciously pushed me into it. And here I am, 10 years later.”

As for his biggest hurdle filming the series, “The most difficult thing I had to do was being so far away from home,” which is London. “I don’t think I’ve ever spent that long of a time in so many different countries away from home.

“I was like, Wow, that’s pretty hard — to be in the middle of Mexico and my parents, my siblings are nowhere to be seen.

“So that was the biggest hump I had to get over and just kind of dive into the community around me.”

He didn’t have a little, like dog to bring along?

“I love cats. My neighbors have, like, three cats. But I just brought them with me in memory.”

“Washington Black” premieres July 23 on Hulu (8 episodes).