The 2025 true crime story of Natalia Grace and the Barnett family has once again taken hold of viewers — this time through Hulu’s new limited series Good American Family. Starring Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass, the series dramatizes the bizarre and troubling circumstances surrounding the adoption of Natalia Grace, a girl born in Ukraine with a rare form of dwarfism. It is set to premiere on March 19, 2025, and it promises to explore the complex nature of perspective, bias, and trauma in a narrative that has mystified — and divided — people for decades.
The Real-Life Story
The real story begins in 2010 when a Midwestern couple named Kristine and Michael Barnett adopted Natalia Grace, whom they were told was a 6-year-old orphan from Ukraine. But as they started to raise Natalia with their three biological children, the Barnetts convinced themselves that she was not a child but an adult posing as one. They accused her of lying about her age, showing sociopathic tendencies trying to harm Kristine, putting thumbtacks on stairs , and attempting to poison Kristine’s coffee.
In 2012, the Barnetts were legally able to petition a court to have Natalia’s birth year changed from 2003 to 1989, giving her an “age” of 22 instead of 8. Minutes later, they left Natalia in an apartment in Lafayette, Ind., and fled to Canada with their biological children. The case gained national attention in 2019 when the Barnetts were charged with neglect of a dependent. Michael was not guilty, but all charges against Kristine were dismissed.
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Natalia’s Side of the Story
Natalia Grace has always maintained she was a child when the Barnetts took her in. In 2019, prosecutors reached out to her birth mother in Ukraine and consulted hospital records that confirmed her year of birth as 2003, verifying some of Natalia’s claims. Natalia was taken in by Antwon and Cynthia Mans after the Barnetts left her, and the couple later testified that she showed no signs of sociopathic behavior. Natalia now lives with Nicole and Vince DePaul in upstate New York where she still contends with the hardships from her past and her rare medical condition.
The Hulu Series: Vive La Difference
Good American Family, written by Katie Robbins and directed by Kelly Devine, recounts this shocking true story from several perspectives. Ellen Pompeo plays Kristine Barnett, and Mark Duplass plays Michael Barnett. Growing up (sort of) as Natalia Grace Played by Imogen Faith Reid — the nuances of Natalia Grace’s character are brought to life by Reid. For its part, the series hints at the possibility of zeroing in on the competing narratives from the Barnetts and Natalia, exploring bias, trauma, and the human capacity to mislead and misjudge.
As per the trailer of the show, Kristine goes on to seek answers while bumping into Natalia quite often which makes Kristine suspicious and paranoid about what Natalia wants from her. Clips of medical tests, court haggles, and fraught family dynamics hint at the emotional and psychological toll the case had on all its players. In discussing the work in an interview with Vanity Fair, Pompeo explained that the show takes creative liberties that spark contemplation and conversation, rather than adhering to a literal retelling of events.
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Why This Story Matters
The strange tale of Natalia Grace would be an intriguing true crime mystery even without the disturbing allegations at its center; at the same time, leaking the story also raises serious questions about adoption, disability, and the treatment of vulnerable members of society. The Barnetts’ allegations about Natalia provide insight into the challenges of parenting a child with special needs, while Natalia’s own story illustrates empathy and understanding for those who have experienced trauma.
The series also addresses greater societal issues, such as media sensationalism and legal systems that ignore nuance. Good American Family does this through competing narratives, encouraging viewers to think more critically about their assumptions, and how truth and perception manifest in this narrative.
What to Know About the Series
Good American Family will debut its first two episodes on Hulu on March 19, 2025, and then release new episodes weekly for the season finale on April 30. The cast of the series is impressive, with Dulé Hill as the detective investigating the case and Christina Hendricks as Cynthia Mans, who took Natalia in after her abandonment. The show is likely to be one of the most raved-about series of the year given its thrilling premise and glittering cast.
