The story centers on Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian adoptee with dwarfism. Her adoptive parents, the Barnetts, faced charges of neglect in 2019. The show’s creator Katie Robbins knew finding the perfect actor was vital to the series’ success. Reid’s emotional depth and openness made her the ideal choice to portray this complex character. She skillfully showed different sides of a story that gripped the nation’s attention.
This talented British newcomer’s journey to such an important role reveals why authentic portrayals matter so much in today’s digital world.
Who is Imogen Faith Reid? A Rising British Talent
Imogen Faith Reid was born in the United Kingdom on May 18, 1997. She has grown faster into a compelling new talent in the entertainment industry. The 27-year-old British performer brings a fresh viewpoint to her craft that comes from her own experiences.
Age and background
Reid’s experience started differently from many others in entertainment. She came into this world with Russell-Silver Syndrome, a rare form of dwarfism. Doctors thought she wouldn’t live past infancy because of this condition. She proved them wrong and grew up to accept her unique stature instead of letting it hold her back.
Reid stands 4 feet 3 inches tall and brings genuine authenticity to her roles. She and Natalia Grace both have forms of dwarfism, though their conditions differ. Grace has spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita, while Reid has Russell-Silver Syndrome.
Reid showed amazing resilience through her childhood and teen years. She turned her condition into strength by focusing on developing her artistic talents. This mindset helped her later when she portrayed Natalia Grace because she understood the challenges little people face every day.
“As a little person, I just felt like I know what it’s like to be judged in everyday life and going through those daily struggles of being small,” Reid shared in an interview. Her personal connection helped her bring extraordinary depth to the character.
Her journey to acting
Reid felt drawn to performing arts from her early years, especially singing and acting. She studied at The Miskin Theater and completed a three-year BTEC Level 3 Performing Arts program. Later, she earned a UAL Level 3 Diploma in Performing and Production.
She got her big break after joining an agency that represents actors with unique heights. This smart move created chances in an industry that doesn’t always embrace inclusive casting.
Before her role in “Good American Family,” Reid worked as a body double in several major productions. Her work history includes “The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power,” “The Witcher” (Season 3), “The One and Only Ivan,” “The Third Day,” and “The Famous Five”.
Reid stayed realistic about her chances when she auditioned for Natalia Grace’s role. “I saw the self-tape [request] through my agent and I thought, ‘Well, I’m not going to get that. But, whoever gets it — slay,'” she recalled. She went through four recalls before learning she got the part.
The news came while Reid ate dinner with her best friend, a moment she calls “surreal”. Disney (Hulu’s parent company) gave Reid an acting coach to help her prepare for this challenging role. She also worked with a dialect coach to become skilled at Natalia’s American accent.
The production team clearly saw her talent. Series showrunner Sarah Sutherland said, “Imogen blew everybody away. As soon as everybody saw her tape, it was clear she was the one”.
Understanding Imogen’s Condition: Russell-Silver Syndrome
Russell-Silver Syndrome (RSS) stands out from other rare genetic disorders as it affects both physical appearance and everyday life. Imogen Faith Reid’s story gives us insight into life with this specific form of dwarfism that affects roughly 1 in 30,000 to 1 in 100,000 people worldwide.
How it is different from Natalia Grace’s dwarfism
RSS is different from Natalia Grace’s spondyloepiphyseal dysplasia congenita in several ways. RSS creates proportionate short stature, and Imogen puts it beautifully: “This type of dwarfism makes me in proportion. My family explain[s] it to people as me being as with Thumbelina, as she is just a tiny character”.
RSS starts with restricted growth in the womb and continues after birth. Babies with RSS have low birth weight and grow slowly afterward. The syndrome comes with distinct physical traits including curved pinky fingers—which Imogen has—and many children are born with blonde hair, just like Imogen.
The genetic picture shows about 60% of RSS cases involve changes in chromosomes 7 or 11, yet 40% of diagnosed cases have no clear genetic cause.
Living with the condition
Life with RSS brings its own set of challenges that Imogen handles with exceptional skill. “I have to adapt a lot; it’s just something that’s normal to me,” she explains. “I’m not sure if this is because I’m little or I’m just weak, but I can’t open water bottles sometimes”.
Everyday adjustments become routine. “We may have to adapt when we can’t reach something,” Imogen shares. “I have to climb on my kitchen counter every morning or use a stool to get to things that are positioned high up”.
People with RSS need to watch out for several health issues:
- Blood sugar management (hypoglycemia is common)
- Monitoring for scoliosis and body asymmetry
- Potential joint pain issues
- Risk of metabolic syndrome in adulthood
Yet Imogen stays optimistic: “I often forget I have it. I have my friends and family to thank for that because they just treat me like me”.
Common misconceptions
The biggest misunderstanding Imogen faces is being mistaken for a child. “People don’t often know that I am a little person and just think I am a child,” she reveals. “I think this is because of the lack of information there is out there about dwarfism and that there are different types that people just don’t know about”.
These mix-ups create awkward moments. “I get stared at a lot and made fun of when walking on the street,” Imogen admits. “People will assume I’m ‘a kid who’s trying to dress older’ and make comments about that”.
People often misunderstand what RSS patients can do. Imogen states clearly, “We are just people, just like you. We do daily tasks like you and try to live a normal life just like you”. Yes, it is true that RSS requires comprehensive medical care, but people with this condition usually have normal intelligence and many lead active, healthy lives.
Imogen works to curb these misconceptions through her public presence. “I’m a very open person and would love to help you understand. Maybe you’ll walk away knowing a different viewpoint in life”. Her role as Natalia Grace helps raise awareness about Russell-Silver Syndrome and dwarfism, pushing audiences to look past physical differences and see the whole person.
Breaking Into Hollywood: Her First Major Role
Imogen Faith Reid landed her breakthrough role as Natalia Grace after quietly building her foundation in the entertainment industry through behind-the-scenes work. Her trip to becoming the face of Hulu’s gripping series shows how persistence and raw talent can create opportunities in Hollywood.
Previous acting experience
“Good American Family” marked Reid’s first speaking role, though she already knew her way around film and television sets. She started her career with background work as a featured tap dancer in the circus troupe of “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald”.
Her distinctive stature proved valuable for specialized work in major productions. She body-doubled for young Cosette in “Les Misérables: The Drama Series” where she learned about stunt work and climbing sequences with harnesses.
Reid steadily built her resume through body double work with Jude Law in HBO’s “The Third Day”. She appeared in “” as a featured server and worked as a stand-in for “The One and Only Ivan” and “The Rings of Power”. She expanded into stunt work for “The Creator” and commercial campaigns like Bazuka That Verruca, which introduced her to prosthetics.House of the Dragon
The casting process for Good American Family
Finding the perfect actor for Natalia Grace required an international search. Reid spotted an open casting call for a role shooting in America.
“I saw that it was an open casting, and saw that it was going to be filmed in America, and I genuinely was like, ‘Well, I’m not going to get that, but what can I do?'” she recalled. She decided to try anyway and created a self-taped audition with her sister’s help. It took about 400 takes to get it right.
Reid immediately caught the production team’s attention. After three or four Zoom callbacks, she secured the role that would transform her career. Disney (Hulu’s parent company) supported her with both an acting coach and a dialect coach to help her perfect Natalia’s American accent.
Reaction to landing the part
Reid felt overwhelmed when she received her casting news. “I was in a restaurant, I look at my phone, see the contract, and I genuinely just freaked out. It was such a surreal moment,” she shared.
She announced her casting on Instagram with enthusiasm in August 2022: “I don’t have words… I’m so EXCITED to not only be starring in my first series or going to L.A but working alongside Ellen Pompeo”.
The cast and crew celebrated Reid’s first day on set. “I was so nervous, but also so excited to just get going. The cast made me feel so at home and so comfortable. That first day was exciting for us all, and I remember everyone clapping for me because it was my first day”.
The Artistic Challenge of Playing Multiple Perspectives
Playing two versions of the same character created a unique acting challenge for Imogen Faith Reid in her debut role. The “Good American Family” narrative structure needed Reid to show Natalia through multiple points of view, which created distinct interpretations of the same person.
Portraying Natalia from different viewpoints
Reid’s performance stood out because she knew how to embody completely different versions of Natalia. “It was really fun actually, to play so many different versions, especially because it was my first role,” Reid explains. Natalia appears calculating and manipulative from Kristine Barnett’s point of view. “When we see Kristine’s point of view at first, Natalia is very cunning. She’s very quick. She is always one step ahead,” says Reid.
Through Natalia’s own eyes, we see a vulnerable child. “And then when we tuck into Natalia’s point of view, she really was just this child, and she doesn’t know any better. She doesn’t know anything. She’s just so helpless,” Reid notes.
Balancing sympathy and suspicion
The show’s structure carefully plays with audience perception. “I think the show does an amazing job of coming from multiple perspectives, and of course, with my character, it’s almost like I’m playing two different people,” Reid reflects. This duality created a technical challenge during filming. Reid sometimes had to combine both interpretations in a single take.
“I remember sometimes the director would ask me to play both in one scene, and play with that innocence but also with that cunningness as well,” she recalls. Visual elements reinforced these distinct points of view. Reid points out, “What was really interesting, what people may not know, is that when we leave Natalia in the apartment in Episode 4, Natalia is wearing clothes that were lilac and bright, and when we see her in Episode 5, they’re gray, because that’s her perspective”.
Creating emotional depth
Episode 5 posed a pivotal challenge for Reid as the narrative shifted firmly to Natalia’s viewpoint. “Episode 5 was something that I was always very anxious about, because I knew it was my episode,” she admits. The episode shows Natalia completely alone, abandoned in an apartment she can barely direct herself through.
Reid discovered unexpected catharsis in these emotionally demanding scenes. “Something about playing such a heavy character sometimes can be relieving for the actor, because you’re actually getting your own emotions out while playing this,” she reveals. She wanted her performance to encourage understanding: “I wanted to show empowerment and for her to be seen—and for people to take away not to judge others so much”.
The Impact of Authentic Casting in Hollywood
Imogen Faith Reid’s breakthrough role in “Good American Family” explains a major transformation in Hollywood’s casting approach. Her performance shows how authentic representation can boost storytelling deeply.
Representation of little people in media
Hollywood has historically portrayed people with dwarfism in limited, stereotypical roles. These portrayals cast little people as fantasy characters, comic relief, or objects of curiosity instead of fully developed individuals. The Oompa Loompas in “Willy Wonka,” dwarf characters in “Snow White,” and various roles in “The Wizard of Oz” and “Austin Powers” serve as high-profile examples.
The industry picked up on “cripping up”—having average-height actors play characters with dwarfism through CGI or other techniques. Activist Mark Povinelli points out, “When they want to make characters fleshed out and more fully developed, they immediately remove little people from the conversation”.
Why authenticity matters in storytelling
Authentic casting brings multiple benefits to productions:
- Enhanced credibility: Genuine voices bring authenticity that makes characters more convincing
- Emotional connection: Audiences build deeper bonds with authentically portrayed characters
- Improved storytelling: Ground experiences add depth to narratives
Reid worked extensively with movement coach Ana Karneža to portray Natalia authentically within her own body. “As a little person, I didn’t want to imitate Natalia’s movement, as we have different types of dwarfisms, but to make it more authentic in my own body,” Reid explained.
Industry response to her performance
Reid’s performance received overwhelming positive industry reaction. Mark Duplass, who portrayed Natalia’s adoptive father, was “blown away by her every day.” He noted how she handled the complex physical aspects of the role while being “thrust right into the identifier of ‘making TV'”.
Showrunner Katie Robbins praised Reid’s “emotional accessibility, her vulnerability, her knowing how to play multiple sides and shades of this character”. Christina Hendricks, who worked closely with Reid, described her as “so professional, dedicated and yet so playful and easy”.
Reid’s success shows how authentic casting can lift a production. Her acting skills and lived experience informed her portrayal in ways impossible to copy otherwise.
Conclusion
Imogen Faith Reid’s portrayal of Natalia Grace is evidence of in Hollywood. Her Russell-Silver Syndrome experience added remarkable depth to the role. Reid’s path from body double work to leading actress shows how talent and persistence can break traditional casting barriers.authentic representation
Without doubt, Reid’s success challenges how the industry has long portrayed little people in media. Her layered performance reveals different points of view of Natalia’s character and shows why authentic casting matters. She proved actors with dwarfism can excel in complex, emotional roles.
The entertainment industry must now make a clear choice. Reid’s breakthrough shows authentic representation creates better stories and stronger audience connections. This fundamental change toward genuine representation opens new chances for talented actors who were overlooked before.
Reid’s story teaches us that exceptional talent emerges from unexpected places. Her commitment and the right chance created something remarkable – a performance that will reshape Hollywood’s casting approach in the years ahead.
FAQs
Q1. How old is Imogen Faith Reid, the actress who plays Natalia Grace?
Imogen Faith Reid was born on May 18, 1997, making her 27 years old. She landed the role of Natalia Grace in “Good American Family” as her first major speaking part in a television series.
Q2. What is Russell-Silver Syndrome, and how does it affect Imogen?
Russell-Silver Syndrome is a rare form of dwarfism that Imogen Faith Reid was born with. It results in proportionate short stature, and in Imogen’s case, she stands at 4 feet 3 inches tall. The condition affects her daily life, requiring adaptations for tasks like reaching high objects, but she maintains a positive outlook.
Q3. What acting experience did Imogen have before landing the role of Natalia Grace?
Prior to “Good American Family,” Imogen worked primarily as a body double and in background roles. She appeared in productions such as “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “Les Misérables: The Drama Series,” and “The Rings of Power,” gaining valuable on-set experience.
Q4. How did Imogen approach playing multiple perspectives of Natalia Grace?
Imogen had to portray Natalia from different viewpoints, sometimes within the same scene. She balanced showing Natalia as both cunning and vulnerable, depending on whose perspective was being presented. This required careful acting choices and even costume changes to reflect the different interpretations of the character.
Q5. Why is authentic casting important in roles like Natalia Grace?
Authentic casting, such as having Imogen Faith Reid play Natalia Grace, brings credibility and depth to storytelling. It allows actors to draw from personal experiences, enhancing the portrayal of characters with similar conditions. This approach also challenges stereotypes and provides more opportunities for diverse actors in the entertainment industry.