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- Hulu’s new miniseries “Good American Family” is based on the real story of Natalia Grace Mans.
- Natalia (Imogen Faith Reid) is a Ukrainian orphan who was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett.
- Kristine (Ellen Pompeo) and Michael (Mark Duplass) became convinced Natalia is actually an adult.
“Good American Family” premiered on Hulu this week, adding another layer to the ongoing fascination with Natalia Grace Mans and the disputed events of her adoption.
Much like Hulu’s Emmy-winning show “The Act,” which was inspired by Gypsy Rose Blanchard and the murder of her mother, Dee Dee, “Good American Family” is based on a headline-grabbing true story about a complex family dynamic that landed some members in court.
Natalia, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett in 2010. The couple was told that Natalia was 6 years old at the time.
They came to believe Natalia was actually an adult masquerading as a child and successfully petitioned in court to change her birth year from 2003 to 1989. Kristine also accused Natalia of making violent threats against herself and other family members, which Natalia has denied.
After relocating Natalia to an independent apartment in Indiana, the family moved to Canada with their three biological sons.
In 2019, the couple faced neglect charges in connection to Natalia’s case, though Michael was later acquitted and charges against Kristine were dismissed. Natalia was then later adopted by another family, Cynthia and Antwon Mans.
Each episode of “Good American Family” is preceded by a legal disclaimer, which reads in part, “This series portrays certain allegations by the individuals involved in this story… It reflects and dramatizes multiple conflicting points of view.”
Here’s how the cast of “Good American Family” compares to their real-life counterparts.
