In Hulu’s new limited series Good American Family, a couple (Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass) adopts a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, Natalia Grace (Imogen Faith Reid). But as Natalia’s behavior grows increasingly erratic, the mother begins to suspect she may not be a child at all, but an adult con artist preying on the family.
It’s a premise straight out of Orphan,and that may not be a coincidence. The film debuted just a year before the real-life events that inspired Good American Family. In 2010, Natalia Grace was adopted by Kristine and Michael Barnett, only to be allegedly abandoned by them in 2013, igniting a lengthy legal battle and media frenzy. Over eight hour-long episodes, showrunners Katie Robbins and Sarah Sutherland craft a layered narrative, exploring how power and trauma shape the stories we tell––and how adults navigate their moral responsibilities to the children in their care.
Paste spoke with Christina Hendricks, who plays Cynthia Mans, ahead of the series premiere on March 19. Mans is a devout woman who, alongside her husband, later adopts Natalia. Hendricks portrays her with deep compassion, tempered by a subtle, lingering ambiguity. (The real Cynthia and Antwon Mans have faced allegations of physical abuse and financial fraud.) As Hendricks describes it, joining Good American Family was a whirlwind. She went in with no knowledge of the events that inspired the series. “I experienced the exact journey the audience will go on,” she says. Reading each script was a twisty, revelatory ride. “I was like, wait––what just happened? These people are wild!”
Paste: Your career spans a wide range of projects, from Mad Men to Good Girls to Hacks. What led you to joining Good American Family?
Christina Hendricks: I was cast about 30 hours before stepping on set, so it was a very fast and furious process. It was terrifying, really. My mind was racing. I was like, how can I possibly be on set the day after tomorrow? But as soon as I read the script, I thought, I have to do this. I really wanted to be a part of it. I didn’t want to miss the opportunity.
Paste: What was it about the script that made you think, I have to do this?
Hendricks: Sometimes, I’ll read a script and go, I don’t understand that angle or I don’t know what I could bring to this. I can tell fairly quickly if something is right for me. It’s a very specific feeling––almost like I’m already in the scene. I don’t know how else to describe it. If I’m imagining myself saying the lines, then I know there’s something I can bring to the project, something uniquely mine. I definitely felt that with Good American Family.
Paste: So how did you spend those 30 hours?
Hendricks: I quickly read all the scripts and immediately watched the ID series, and [scoured] the internet for images, videos, interviews, Dr. Phil––anything where I could see Cynthia and Natalia interact. I wanted to get a sense of how Cynthia carries herself, how she presents herself, and what she likes to wear. The next morning, I went straight to hair and makeup, where we picked a wig from a few options. I’d noticed that Cynthia never wears pants, so I said, I think we have to always put her in skirts. I think she likes to have fun with clothes. We wanted to reflect that side of her personality, while still putting our own spin on the character. Enough to stay true to the world we were building and the inspiration behind it.
I also worked with a dialect coach right away. That was very important to me. I wanted the Barnetts and Cynthia Mans to feel like they came from different parts of town, and Cynthia does have a strong accent, so I wanted to bring that in. It was a lot to pull off in a short amount of time.
Paste: What do you hope viewers take away from Good American Family?
Hendricks: For me, the underlying idea is the imbalance of power. How a child, without an advocate or ally, can be silenced and bulldozed by a system that just won’t listen to a young person without a team behind them. And I think people need to be careful when they hear something. They should consider all perspectives, and seek out their own information.
Paste: And not just take the idea of a “good American family” at face value.
Hendricks: Yeah, it’s like “good girls.” It’s definitely a wink at a phrase we all know but maybe should question. In this day and age, what seems perfect may not actually be. There can be so much under the surface. This show is all about constantly questioning things; just when you think you’ve figured something out, it all shifts. We hope the audience is right there with us on that journey. To me, that’s what makes the writing so great––it’s a rollercoaster ride.
