Exclusive Interview: Imogen Faith Reid on Portraying the Pain and Power of Natalia Grace in ‘Good American Family’

Imogen Faith Reid’s performance in Good American Family is nothing short of riveting. Making her debut in a leading role, she steps into the center of a deeply complicated story as Natalia Grace, a girl whose identity is questioned and scrutinized by everyone around her. Imogen plays her with strength, vulnerability, and a sharp emotional precision that anchors every scene she’s in.

Inspired by true events, Good American Family explores the harrowing story of a Midwestern couple who adopt a young girl with a rare form of dwarfism. As they begin raising her alongside their biological children, doubts about her age and origin begin to surface, leading to suspicion, fear, and a highly publicized legal battle. Told from multiple points of view, the series challenges audiences to question everything they think they know—about Natalia, the family who adopted her, and the ways trauma and bias can distort the truth.

Pop Culturalist caught up with Imogen to discuss what it was like stepping into such a complex role for her first major project, the preparation that helped her embody Natalia’s emotional world, and the responsibility of portraying a story that’s been so widely covered yet never fully understood.

PC: You’ve mentioned in previous interviews that, growing up in the U.K., this story wasn’t as widely covered. When you’re playing a character with so much existing coverage, how do you find the balance between your own research and what’s in the script?
Imogen: As you said, I wasn’t familiar with the story. But once I started doing my research, I found it so compelling—it felt like such an important story to tell, and I wanted to dive right in. Ultimately, as an actor, I chose to create my own version of Natalia because I felt there was so much I could bring to her. As a little person, there were experiences I could draw on and incorporate into the performance.

The research process was incredible, and Disney really supported me by connecting me with amazing acting and movement coaches. I have a different type of dwarfism than Natalia, so we wanted to replicate her movement in a way that wasn’t imitative but felt authentic to my body. I also worked with a dialect coach, which was really helpful. Through all of that—and through conversations with different APs and directors—I was able to find my version of Natalia, and I’m really proud of that.

PC: There’s so much complexity in your portrayal, especially in the early episodes where we experience Natalia through the Barnetts’ eyes before shifting to her perspective about halfway through the story. How did you prepare to navigate that transition, especially knowing you’d be connecting with audiences who are both familiar and unfamiliar with Natalia’s story?
Imogen: In the first four episodes, we’re seeing a different version of Natalia because it’s all through Kristine’s perspective—so she comes across as manipulative, always one step ahead, even conniving at times. As an actor, you have to be sharp. You have to know exactly when she’s switching gears to outsmart the characters she’s interacting with. It was a really fascinating challenge and actually a lot of fun—especially for someone who’s never taken on a role like this before.

The shift is dramatic when we finally step into Natalia’s perspective. It almost makes the audience second-guess everything they’ve seen up to that point.

PC: They definitely will. I did
Imogen: I think that’s what’s so great about the show—you’re constantly changing your mind. You’re never quite sure where to land. I loved getting to play from Natalia’s perspective because it allowed me to show the authenticity of what she went through and just how difficult it all was. I’m especially proud of Episode 5, where we finally see the pain she endured.

PC: It’s incredible that this is your first speaking role—congratulations, by the way. You really put yourself through the wringer for this project. As you mentioned, you worked closely with different coaches to fully embody this character. While reading the script, was there a particular scene you were most excited to dive into, knowing how much preparation you were putting in? And how did the experience compare to what you imagined?
Imogen: I was so excited. I had Episode 1 for such a long time, and I went through it over and over again. So stepping onto set for the first time, I had this moment of, “This is what I read on paper. This is what I’ve worked so hard for.” I had done all the preparation with my acting coach, so it felt amazing to finally bring it to life. Filming Episode 1 is something I’ll never forget—it was the start of everything for me, and it’s what I’ve always wanted to do. It was incredible to finally be telling this story.

PC: I imagine there has to be so much trust between you, Ellen [Pompeo], and Mark [Duplass] to tell this story. How did you go about building that off screen so you could go to the darker places required for this role?
Imogen: Working with Ellen and Mark was incredible. I love them both—we had such an amazing bond. Mark and I got really close during filming. We were silly on and off screen, which made the heavier moments even more emotional. That scene in Episode 5 was heartbreaking to film because up until then, we’ve only seen Michael and Natalia share this really close connection. It was hard playing opposite someone who had been so warm to me off screen but had to be cold in the scene. And I know it was hard for Mark too.

It was the same with Ellen—I absolutely love her. When we had to do the more intense scenes, we made sure to talk beforehand to understand each other’s boundaries and what we were comfortable with. But I always felt so safe with both of them. After those emotional takes, we’d hug it out. I feel really lucky to have worked with such incredible people.

PC: You also do such a brilliant job portraying Natalia later in her life—and as audience members, we really feel the weight of everything she’s been through. How did you create that space for yourself to explore that?
Imogen: Those scenes were so challenging because it’s the first time we truly see Natalia—there’s no facade, no one else’s version of her. It’s just her, and she doesn’t know what’s happening around her. It’s really heartbreaking. In those moments, I just wanted to do her justice. Now that we have her perspective, I wanted to make sure her voice was heard. She deserves to be seen.

It meant so much to me to step into her shoes and tell that part of her story. I wanted to make sure we showed every ounce of pain she endured—but also the strength she held onto. I’m really proud to have been a part of that.

PC: This is going to be a breakout moment for you. Was there anything that surprised you about this experience? What did you learn about your craft that you’ll carry into the next project?
Imogen: Coming from someone who’s mostly worked on second team—doing body doubling and stand-in work—this experience was completely different. Being part of first team was a lot more challenging, but it was so worth it. I learned so much. I was surrounded by an incredible cast—not just Mark and Ellen, but also Christina Hendricks, Dulé Hill, Sarayu Blue… so many amazing actors to learn from. Even though I might’ve been one of the leads, they were the leads for me. I’d go to them after a scene, ask questions, watch how they worked. I’m so grateful for all of them.

As for what I’ll take with me, I hope to keep exploring—trying different takes, different flavors, pushing myself to discover what I can bring to a scene. Watching Mark and Ellen work taught me so much, and it made me even more excited for whatever comes next.

PC: This series is gut-wrenching to watch—it draws such a visceral response from audiences. How did you decompress after a day on set?
Imogen: Music is a huge part of my life—I can’t go anywhere without my headphones. At the start and end of each day, I’d put them on and play my playlist. That’s how I’d decompress, breathe, and feel like myself again. I’d also text my friends and just check in.

When you’re filming such emotionally heavy scenes, your downtime becomes so important. You really have to protect your energy. For me, it was all about music, laughter, and finding small ways to reconnect with myself. That was my main thing.

PC: Good American Family concludes this week. What do you hope audiences take away from experiencing this series and Natalia’s story? And as you look ahead, is there a dream role you’d love to bring to life?
Imogen: I hope audiences take away not to judge others so quickly based on how they look or sound. We’re all going through different things. It’s okay if someone’s on a different path than you. Be yourself, and be open to people who might be a little unique. Explore that. Being different isn’t a weakness—it’s a strength.

As for a dream role, I love everything. I just want to be a versatile actor who gets to explore different roles and fully transform into each character. That’s what I’m excited to do. I’ve only just started my career, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

To keep up with Imogen, follow her on Instagram. Good American Family is available to stream on Hulu.

Photo Credit: Matt Kallish