British actor playing adopted girl accused of being 22-year-old woman reveals 'truth' she learned during role
A series focused on the case of Natalia Grace is coming out this week, and the actress playing the Ukrainian orphan has shared how she found the role.
Natalia, a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, was adopted by American couple Kristine and Michael Barnett in 2010.
They believed that she was just six-years-old when they took her in, but before long, the family alleged that she was an 'adult sociopath masquerading as a child' who attempted to murder them.
The story has featured endless accusations, claims and interpretations, but just two years on from the release of docuseries The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, a Hulu series is being released on Disney Plus internationally, this week.
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It's called Good American Family, and it looks at both sides of the story - you can view the trailer here:
Mum Kristine alleged that they were tricked into adopting a 22-year-old woman, while Michael claimed: "She tried to poison and kill my wife.
"One night, I opened my eyes and Natalia is standing at the foot of the bed with a knife in her hand."
This eventually resulted in the couple abandoning Natalia, leaving her in an apartment in Layfette, Indiana, for which they were handed 'neglect charges'.
The case has captured the attention of true crime fans for the best part of 10 years, and now, the British actress playing Natalia in the series, revealed how she found the story.
Imogen Faith Reid, who has previously had roles in shows such as The Witcher and The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, said that 'it's hard to get to the truth' of what really happened. The actress also revealed that she didn't reach out to the real Natalia as she wanted to make the role her own by playing her 'own version'.
Ellen Pompeo, known for her long-standing role in Grey's Anatomy, plays Natalia's adoptive mother too, to add some star-power.
The series spends four episodes portraying Natalia as a sinister woman that has infiltrated the family, while the next four episodes portray her as a mistreated child in the Barnett household.
It amplifies the idea that the truth will never really be known, as the court battle between Natalia and her adoptive parents is portrayed, with the couple fighting to change her birth date from 2003 to 1989.
The harrowing story has put Reid in the limelight as the adopted Natalia, who was confirmed to be a minor in real life at the time of her adoption in 2010, according to DNA tests.
While neglect charges were brought to the Barnetts, Michael was found not guilty as charges against Kristine were dropped.
Reid was shocked to land the role as she expected an American to win it, as the actor, who also has dwarfism, was over the moon to find out she landed the role.
She said on Instagram: "I'm so EXCITED to not only be starring in my first series or going to L.A but working alongside Ellen Pompeo, the fact that I'm obsessed with greys anatomy and now get to work with Meridith Grey I'm so excited, nervous, anxious ahhhh... I guess I'm going to LA!"
While Natalia was born with a bone growth disorder known as spondyloepimetaphyseal dysplasia, hindering vision, causing short stature and skeletal abnormalities, Reid has Russell-Silver Syndrome (RSS).
This is a rare condition that results in slow growth before and after birth.
Topics: Disney Plus, Natalia Grace, TV, True Crime, Health, Celebrity
Joshua Nair