Actress Ellen Pompeo of “Grey’s Anatomy” is starring in a new Hulu series that is based on the life of Natalia Grace Barnett, a Ukrainian orphan who gained notoriety after her adoptive parents said she was an adult rather than a kid.
“Good American Family,” which will debut on Hulu on March 19, reportedly drew inspiration from “multiple stories, perspectives, threats, interpretations, and accusations.” The drama centers on “disturbing stories” about a Midwestern couple who adopt a child with a rare form of dwarfism, even though neither Natalia nor her adoptive family are specifically mentioned in the show’s synopsis.
In the series, the girl’s adoptive parents, such as the Barnett family from Indiana, start to suspect her, saying she was much older than they thought she was and that she threatened their physical security.
Natalia was accused by the Barnett parents in real life of being violent, mentally ill, planning to murder the whole family, and defrauding them by acting phony.
Around 2014, the case gained national attention and swiftly rose to the status of one of the most strange true crime cases ever. After the parents had Natalia’s age officially changed and left her in a leased apartment while the rest of the family departed the country, Natalia and the Barnetts continued to be in the public eye amid protracted legal fights.
In recent years, Natalia’s story has been the subject of several television shows, such as “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace,” a documentary series on Investigation Discovery that debuted last month.
Here are some facts about the upcoming drama series “Good American Family” on Hulu, along with further information about Natalia Grace, the show’s inspiration.
Natalia Grace is who?
In 2010, a couple from Indiana named Kristine Elizabeth and Michael Barnett adopted a Ukrainian orphan named Natalia Grace Barnett. When the Barnetts originally took Natalia in, they thought she was around six or seven years old.
Spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, a rare genetic condition affecting the bones and spine that causes petite stature and other skeletal anomalies, was the diagnosis made for Natalia.
Shortly after bringing Natalia home, the Barnetts claimed that she was not the age shown on her birth certificate since she supposedly had mental illness, pubic hair, and a menstrual cycle. In addition to alleging that Natalia’s genetic condition caused her to appear much younger than she actually was, the couple also claimed that she was defrauding them and endangering their safety because of her aggressive tendencies.
As the Barnetts disputed Natalia’s age and their respective claims in court, doctors, genetic experts, DNA evidence, and a Ukrainian woman claiming to be Natalia’s biological mother were called in to help ascertain her true age.
Despite medical evaluations proving Natalia was really a kid and the lack of strong proof to the contrary, a Marion County court changed Natalia’s Ukranian birth papers in 2012 to state that she was 22 years old instead of the previously accepted age of 11.
Later, in July 2013, the Barnetts moved Natalia into an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, by herself after enrolling her in public assistance. Their oldest son was going to college in Canada, so the couple moved there with their other kids. A year after Natalia’s eviction from the apartment, the couple was charged with multiple counts of neglecting a dependent and accused of desertion.
The accusations have subsequently been dropped after the now-divorced Barnetts both disputed the allegations.
Natalia Grace, where are you now?
Depending on which records you look at, Natalia is either about 21 or 34. In an exclusive interview with People Magazine last month, Natalia talked about her departure from her second set of adopted parents, her new adoptive family, forgiveness, and her future goals.
“It’s a blessing to be alive today because looking back at my 7-year-old self, I should have been dead,” Natalia stated to People.
According to People, Natalia is presently pursuing her GED with the goal of becoming a teacher someday.
She is planning future procedures that are necessary for her disability, learning to drive, and obsessively listening to Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift. According to People, Natalia has also fallen in love with her boyfriend Neil.
“Learning everything that I have about how to live with my dwarfism—it’s been a great experience,” Natalia stated to People. “I adore it. Naturally, I still miss my siblings and everything else. However, I adore it. I feel liberated.
‘Good American Family’: What is it about?
“Good American Family” is a narrative that uses “multiple points of view, as a means to explore issues of perspective, bias, and trauma,” according to the official logline of Hulu. Although Natalia Grace and her previous adoptive family are not specifically mentioned in the show’s description, the circumstance appears to be an inspiration.
The unsettling tales of a Midwestern couple adopting a girl with a rare kind of dwarfism served as the inspiration for this gripping drama. However, a mystery around her age and history arises as they raise her alongside their three biological children, and they gradually begin to fear she may not be who she claims to be,” the episode description states. “As they defend their family from the daughter they’ve grown to believe is a threat, she fights her own battle to confront her past and what her future holds, in a showdown that ultimately plays out in the tabloids and in the courtroom.”
Date and cast of the “Good American Family” debut
Hulu will debut “Good American Family” on Wednesday, March 19.
Pompeo was one of many Hollywood celebrities cast in the series:
Pompeo as the adoptive mother of Natalia Barnett, Kristine
Mark Duplass as the adoptive father of Natalia Barnett, Michael
Natalia, played by Imogen Faith Reid Acting as Det. Brandon Drysdal, Grace Dulé HillValik, a daycare parent played by Sarayu BlueAs Cynthia Man, Christina HendricksS
‘Good American Family’ viewing instructions
The March 19 premiere of “Good American Family” and its weekly episodes are available to stream on Hulu or through a Hulu add-on for a Disney+ subscription. According to Variety, the Hulu drama series will debut with the first two episodes and then weekly installments.
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