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Imogen Faith Reid: All About the Star Behind Natalia Grace in Hulu’s ‘Good American Family’
When Imogen Faith Reid first got the call that she’d been cast as Natalia Grace in Hulu’s Good American Family, she was sitting in a restaurant with her best friend, completely unaware that her life was about to change. Just a few weeks earlier, the 27-year-old British actor had submitted a self-tape, filmed with the help of her sister, for what would become her first major on-screen role. Though she didn’t expect to land the part, Reid’s performance turned out to be the missing piece in a project that demanded emotional range, subtlety, and lived experience.
Reid, who has Russell-Silver Syndrome, a rare form of dwarfism, was a natural fit to portray Natalia Grace, the real-life Ukrainian adoptee whose story has sparked public fascination and debate for more than a decade. Good American Family dramatises the complex and controversial events surrounding Natalia’s adoption, abandonment, and the legal storm that followed. For Reid, the role was more than an acting challenge; it was a chance to bring depth and dignity to a narrative that has often been reduced to headlines.
How did Imogen Faith Reid land the role of Natalia Grace?
Imogen Reid portrayed the real-life media sensation Natalia Grace in Hulu’s Good American Family.
Source:
Disney/Frank Micelotta
Reid’s journey to the lead role in Good American Family began with a self-taped audition that she initially thought would go unnoticed. Speaking to TODAY.com, she admitted she assumed casting directors would likely choose an American actress. But despite her doubts, Reid gave it her all, reportedly filming around 400 takes before submitting her final tape. She worked closely with her sister on it, ensuring every detail was just right.
The gamble paid off. Reid’s audition tape “blew everybody away,” according to series creator Katie Robbins, who emphasised that the show’s success depended entirely on finding the right person to play Natalia. “It was such a challenging part, and it lived and died on finding somebody who could play it,” Robbins said.
Despite having no prior speaking roles on screen, Reid was selected not just for her acting talent but for her capacity to embody a character as nuanced and emotionally layered as Natalia Grace. Her background as a stand-in and body double on shows like The Rings of Power, The One and Only Ivan, and The Third Day had prepared her for life on set, but Good American Family marked her first time carrying a project from the front.
What makes Reid’s portrayal of Natalia so unique?
Imogen Reid in Good American Family.
Source: Disney/Ser Baffo
Portraying Natalia Grace on screen required Reid to do more than memorise lines or mimic gestures. She had to interpret a real person who had been seen and judged from vastly different viewpoints. Reid was tasked with embodying a character that needed to appear simultaneously vulnerable and possibly deceptive as an adult. The role demanded immense emotional agility, and Reid delivered.
Robbins noted that the role was especially difficult because Natalia is shown through multiple lenses not only as she sees herself, but also as her adoptive parents, investigators, and others perceive her. Reid, Robbins said, was able to “hold all of that while still being incredibly vulnerable and accessible and warm.”
Actor Mark Duplass, who portrays Michael Barnett, one of Natalia’s adoptive parents, praised Reid’s dedication. He highlighted the fact that Reid had to master an American accent for the role and learn physical mannerisms that mimicked Natalia’s specific form of dwarfism, which differs from her own. According to Duplass, Reid worked tirelessly with a dialect coach and movement experts to create a portrayal that was authentic to Natalia’s condition while still honouring her own physical boundaries.
How did Reid prepare for such a complex role?
Reid gives a multifaceted performance as Natalia Grace.
Source: Ser Baffo/Disney
Reid approached the role of Natalia with sensitivity and preparation. Although she was initially unfamiliar with the real story, she conducted extensive research before filming began. She did not reach out to Natalia directly but instead created her own version of the character based on available documents, interviews, and scripts.
“I wanted to play my own version. And something that was really important for me was to portray that light and empowerment,” Reid said. “Just wanting to fight for that justice and to be seen. Those were some key elements that I wanted to implement.”
The emotional weight of the role was matched by physical demands. Beyond learning an accent, Reid also studied the body language and social dynamics associated with Natalia’s rare condition. This was no easy feat, especially considering that Reid’s own experience with Russell-Silver Syndrome meant she needed to adapt her natural movement to reflect Natalia’s distinct form of dwarfism.
Despite the challenges, Reid impressed both cast and crew with her professionalism. Christina Hendricks, who plays Cynthia Mans, another adoptive mother figure in the series, described Reid as “so professional,” “dedicated,” and “yet so playful and easy.” The two quickly bonded on set, building a chemistry that translated well on screen.
What is Good American Family about?
Good American Family is a dramatised retelling of the controversial story of Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism who was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett in 2010. The Barnetts later claimed that Natalia was not a child, but an adult posing as one. In 2013, they left her in an Indiana apartment and moved to Canada, sparking national outrage and a years-long legal saga.
Medical documents and court records, however, contradicted the Barnetts’ claims. One affidavit revealed that Michael Barnett admitted knowing Natalia was a minor when they left her. Though the couple legally changed her birth year to 1989 — effectively making her 22 at the time of adoption later evaluations affirmed that Natalia had in fact been a child.
Good American Family brings this complex story to the screen, shifting between different characters’ perspectives and exploring how misunderstandings, assumptions, and fear can fracture families. Reid’s portrayal of Natalia lies at the centre of this web, offering viewers a more humanised look at someone often portrayed in an abstract manner.
How does Reid relate to Natalia Grace?
Natalia Grace.
Source: Dr. Phil/ Youtube
Reid’s own life experience gives her a unique lens through which to view Natalia’s story. Born with Russell-Silver Syndrome, Reid has firsthand knowledge of the social and physical challenges faced by people with dwarfism. In interviews, she has spoken about being mistaken for a child and the judgment that often accompanies her appearance.
“People don’t often know that I am a little person and just think I am a child,” Reid told PopSugar. “I think this is because of the lack of information there is out there about dwarfism and that there are different types that people just don’t know about.”
Reid believes that her personal experiences helped her connect with the role on a deeper level, not just in terms of physicality, but in the emotional nuance required to portray someone navigating stigma, suspicion, and alienation.
What’s next for Imogen Faith Reid?
Though Good American Family is Reid’s first speaking role, her performance has already drawn attention from critics and fans alike. She hopes the show is just the beginning of a broader acting career and has expressed her excitement about future opportunities.
“It would be so amazing. I love this industry, and it’s such an honour to be a part of it,” Reid said. “Coming away from this, I’ve really seen what I’ve done … I’m proud of how hard I’ve worked to get where I am.”
Mark Duplass echoed this sentiment, noting that Reid’s presence was energising on set. “We’re like the crotchety veterans who’ve been around a long time,” he joked. “And she kind of brought us up a little bit … I see big, big things for her.”
With Good American Family already gaining buzz and streaming audiences responding to the story’s emotional depth, Reid’s star is clearly on the rise.
FAQs
Who is Imogen Faith Reid? Imogen Faith Reid is a British actor who plays Natalia Grace in Hulu’s Good American Family. She is 27 years old and was born on May 1, 1997.
What condition does she have? Reid was born with Russell-Silver Syndrome, a rare form of dwarfism that affects physical growth and results in short stature and distinct features.
Was Good American Family her first acting job?
It is her first on-screen speaking role. Prior to this, she worked as a stand-in and body double in films and series like The Rings of Power and The One and Only Ivan.
Did she meet Natalia Grace before filming? No, Reid chose not to contact Natalia directly. She instead built her own version of the character based on research and script guidance.
Where is she from?
Reid is originally from the UK. She relocated to Los Angeles during filming.
How did she prepare for the role? Reid worked with a dialect coach to perfect her American accent and studied the physical characteristics of Natalia’s condition to ensure her portrayal was authentic.
What’s next for her? Reid has expressed hopes that Good American Family will lead to more acting opportunities in film and television.
