The new series “Good American Family” on Hulu delves into the dramatic story of Natalia Grace, a young girl with dwarfism who was adopted by an American couple in 2010. The show is inspired by real-life events and explores the scrutiny surrounding Natalia’s age and identity.
Grey’s Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo plays Kristine Barnett, a woman who adopts a seven-year-old Natalia. At the time, Barnett was a rising star due to her son Jacob, who has autism and made headlines for his academic achievements. In reality, the Barnetts had Natalia’s age changed from 8 to 22 and moved her into an apartment to live on her own.
The series portrays a tumultuous relationship between Natalia and the Barnetts, with both sides accusing each other of abuse. The show depicts the family having a honeymoon period but soon growing suspicious of Natalia’s behavior. They claim she terrorized them, while Natalia maintains they were impatient with her due to chronic pain and trauma.
Natalia says she was subjected to physical and emotional abuse by the Barnetts, including being hit with a belt and pepper-sprayed. The real-life docu-series “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace” has shown similar allegations from both sides.
One of the central questions in the show is why the Barnetts changed Natalia’s age from 7 to 22. They did so after noticing public hair and adult teeth on her body, despite her being around seven years old at the time of adoption. The series depicts Kristine trying to prove Natalia’s adulthood through various means.
In reality, an Indiana court did change Natalia’s birth year in 2012 due to concerns over her birth certificate. The docu-series shows how Natalia eventually found a supportive family after being forced to live on her own.
Source: https://time.com/7268980/good-american-family-true-story-natalia-grace