The Grey's Anatomy actress, Ellen Pompeo, is the protagonist of the series Good American Family, which will premiere on March 19 and is based on real events. The plot revolves around the case of Natalia Grace, a girl with a rare disease that affects her physical appearance. This production joins other television series that are also based on true stories, such as Netflix's Adolescence and American Primeval.
Good American Family is inspired by the true story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl adopted by an American family in 2010. Although it was believed that Natalia was between 6 and 7 years old, her adoptive parents argued that her actual age was different due to certain unusual behaviors and physical characteristics. After medical examinations, it was determined that Natalia suffered from congenital spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia, a disease that affects bone development, among other aspects.
Despite medical evidence confirming Natalia's age, a judge changed her birth date from 2001 to 1989 and forced her to live alone in an apartment. The adoptive parents, Kristine Elizabeth Barnett and Michael Barnett, were accused of neglecting a dependent person but were ultimately acquitted. Natalia Grace has shared her story in the documentary "The Curious Case of Natalia Grace," where she revealed having been mistreated. Ellen Pompeo has mentioned that the series takes certain dramatic liberties to adapt Grace's life into fiction.
Good American Family premieres on March 19, 2025, on Disney+ and consists of a total of 8 episodes. The series features a cast led by Ellen Pompeo as Kristine Barnett, Mark Duplass as Michael Barnett, and Imogen Faith Reid as Natalia Grace. The episodes will be released weekly starting from the premiere date, offering a fictional but inspired view of the real life of Natalia Grace and her adoptive family.
