Hey, you! Ready for some wild TV drama? Natalia Grace, the Ukrainian orphan whose adoption turned into a total rollercoaster, is the real-life spark behind Hulu’s new show Good American Family. Dropping on March 19, this series stars Ellen Pompeo (yep, the Grey’s Anatomy queen) and dives into a story that’s equal parts mystery and madness.
If you’ve followed the Natalia Grace Barnett case, you know it’s bonkers—her adoptive parents swore she was an adult pretending to be a kid, while she fought to prove she was just a child abandoned way too young. Good American Family isn’t a straight retelling, but it’s totally inspired by this jaw-dropping tale. Curious about the Good American Family true story? It’s got all the twists—suspicion, court battles, and a girl caught in the middle.
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Who Is Natalia Grace?
Picture this: It’s 2010, and an Indiana couple, Michael and Kristine Barnett, adopt a girl they think is 6 or 7 years old. That’s Natalia Grace, born in Ukraine with a rare condition called spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita. It’s a mouthful, I know—basically, it’s a type of dwarfism that affects her bones and makes her look smaller than she is. The Barnetts thought they were bringing home a little girl, but things got weird fast.
Soon after, they started saying Natalia wasn’t a kid at all. They claimed she had signs of being older—like pubic hair and a menstrual cycle—and accused her of creepy stuff, like plotting to harm their family. Natalia? She says that’s all nonsense. The Barnetts even got a court to change her birth year from 2003 to 1989 in 2012, making her legally 22 instead of 11. Wild, right?
Here’s where it gets messier: In 2013, they moved Natalia into an apartment in Lafayette, Indiana, all by herself, then took off to Canada with their other kids. She was evicted a year later, and the Barnetts faced neglect charges. Those charges? Eventually dropped—Michael got acquitted in 2022, and Kristine’s were dismissed in 2023. Meanwhile, a 2023 DNA test suggested Natalia was around 9 when adopted, not an adult, backing up her side of the story. So, was she a kid abandoned or an adult scammer? People still can’t agree.
Where’s Natalia Grace Now?
So, where’s Natalia Grace hanging out these days? As of 2025, she’s living in upstate New York with the DePaul family, and let me tell you, it’s been quite a journey to get here. After all the chaos with the Barnetts and a rocky stint with the Mans family, Natalia’s finally found a spot where she feels safe and free—two things she’s chased for years.
Back in December 2023, Natalia made a midnight escape from the Manses’ home in Tennessee. She’d been adopted by Antwon and Cynthia Mans in 2023 after knowing them for a decade, and at first, it seemed like a happy ending. But things turned sour fast. In The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: The Final Chapter (which aired in January 2025), Natalia said she felt like a prisoner with the Manses. They allegedly controlled her money, cut her off from the outside world, and even took her phone when they found out about her boyfriend, Neil, from the UK. Neighbors and friends backed her up, claiming they saw the Manses hit her and lock her away—pretty heavy stuff.
Enter Neil, her online boyfriend she met on social media. He got worried about her and reached out to the DePauls, a family of little people who’d tried to adopt Natalia way back in 2009. Nicole DePaul and her daughter Mackenzie swooped in like heroes, driving from New York to Tennessee to pick Natalia up from a church in Nashville. “I was terrified, but my heart was pounding with hope,” Natalia told People magazine about that night. Since then, she’s been living with Nicole, Vince, and Mackenzie DePaul, who get what it’s like to live with dwarfism and have given her a real shot at stability.
Right now, Natalia’s all about building a future. She’s studying for her GED—yep, she wants to be a teacher someday! She’s also learning to drive, blasting Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus on repeat (who doesn’t?), and planning surgeries to help with her dwarfism. Oh, and she’s head over heels for Neil, who she finally met in person in 2025. “I feel free,” she said in that People interview, and honestly, after everything, that’s huge. She’s either 21 or 34, depending on which age you believe—DNA says she was about 22 in 2023, so probably 23 or 24 now—but either way, she’s done letting the past define her.
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The DePauls aren’t planning to adopt her legally, but they’re family in every way that counts. Nicole’s even said Natalia’s never been violent—her dogs adore her, and that’s a solid character reference in my book! Sure, there’ve been bumps, like Natalia secretly recording them once (she’s got trust issues, can you blame her?), but they’re working through it. She’s in therapy too, dealing with the trauma from her past. After bouncing from the Barnetts to the Manses and now landing with the DePauls, Natalia’s finally got a place to call home—and a chance to just be herself.
What’s next for her? She’s dreaming of marriage, kids, and teaching—big goals after a tough start. Want to keep up with her story? The Hulu show Good American Family (premiering March 19) is inspired by her life, and it’s gonna dig into all this drama. So, where’s Natalia Grace now? She’s in New York, living her truth, and honestly, I’m rooting for her. What about you?
What’s Hulu’s Good American Family Show All About?
Okay, so Hulu’s Good American Family isn’t exactly Natalia’s story—it’s “inspired” by it. The show follows a Midwestern couple who adopt a girl with dwarfism, only to start doubting her age and background. Sound familiar? They think she’s a threat, while she’s fighting to figure out her own life. It’s told from different angles, digging into bias, trauma, and how messy things get when tabloids and courtrooms get involved. Think of it as a drama with a big “what if” vibe that’ll keep you guessing.
Hulu’s Good American Family Cast
Here is the full list of star cast:
- Ellen Pompeo as the Adoptive Mom
- Mark Duplass as the Adoptive Dad
- Imogen Faith Reid as the Natalia Grace Character
- Dulé Hill as Detective Brandon Drysdale
- Sarayu Blue as Valika, a Daycare Parent
- Christina Hendricks as Cynthia Mans
How to Watch Good American Family?
You can catch the premiere and weekly episodes on Hulu starting March 19. Got Disney+? Add Hulu to your plan, and you’re set. The first two episodes drop day one, then it’s one a week after that—perfect for bingeing or pacing yourself.
Why This Story Hooks Us
Natalia’s case blew up around 2014, and it’s still got us hooked. It’s been on Investigation Discovery’s The Curious Case of Natalia Grace and Natalia Speaks, and now Hulu’s jumping in. Why? It’s got everything—mystery, heartbreak, and a “who’s telling the truth” puzzle. Plus, that DNA twist from 2023? It’s like a plot twist IRL. Whether you’re Team Natalia or just here for the chaos, Good American Family is about to bring this wild ride to your screen.
So, what do you think—gonna tune in? Let me know, and let’s chat about it!
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