Mark Duplass Questions Need for Another ‘Ripped From the Headlines’ Drama in New Series

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Mark Duplass openly admitted that when the opportunity arose for him to star in the Natalia Grace drama “Good American Family” on Hulu, his initial response was one of great doubt.

Here’s an interesting point: They’re releasing a documentary titled ‘Orphan’, which seems to share some common themes with other movies. With so many real-life stories already making headlines, why add another one to the mix?” Duplass stated during the Los Angeles premiere (and FYC event) at the Directors Guild Theater on Thursday night, speaking to EbMaster.

After Duplass met with showrunners Katie Robbins and Sarah Sutherland to discuss their concept of presenting various viewpoints to uncover underlying prejudices, he was captivated by their “Rashomon”-style plan. This approach particularly intrigued him as it seemed quite unusual in the realm of miniseries production.

The eight-episode Hulu production, titled “Tell Me Lies I Tell Myself,” chronicles the actual experiences of Kristine (Ellen Pompeo) and her husband Michael Barnett (Duplass), who adopt a young girl named Natalia Grace (Imogen Faith Reid) from Ukraine, who has dwarfism. However, as they grow closer to Natalia, they become suspicious that she’s holding back certain truths about herself. Eventually, they accuse her in court of falsifying her age.

Sutherland mentioned that the whole series would only move forward if they could find the perfect actress for Natalia. Following a global hunt, they received a video submission from an up-and-coming British actress named Reid.

Sutherland stated that Imogen’s role required more than just playing characters across various years; she had to portray Natalia at two distinct ages and from multiple viewpoints. When everyone watched her audition tape, it became immediately evident that she was the right choice.

To help Reid secure her debut significant series role at Disney, they assigned her an acting mentor. “Subsequently, we analyzed the script, the character, and I had discussions with directors, executive producers, and a speech coach to create my unique portrayal of Natalia,” Reid explained.

Many cast members had the opportunity to delve into their roles more deeply by researching and considering different viewpoints. However, Christina Hendricks, portraying Cynthia Mans, discovered her role just 30 hours prior to filming, leaving her little time to prepare.

When I arrived, Imogen had been developing the show for some time, and she had a good grasp of both the rhythm and character. This left me feeling a bit apprehensive when I stepped onto set, but I simply followed her lead. We clicked instantly, and she made my role much smoother.” – Hendricks

As a passionate cinephile, I’m thrilled to share that “Good American Family” marks my first significant leading role in television since my 20-season journey on “Grey’s Anatomy”. I eagerly anticipate that by the finale of this new series, viewers will have a profound understanding of the intricate narrative we’ve woven.

Pompeo suggests that we should reflect upon the perspectives we take when observing things, and the judgments we form based on appearances. He emphasizes the importance of recognizing and challenging our own prejudices, questioning the reasons behind our beliefs.

Beginning March 19, the initial pair of “Good American Family” episodes will premiere on Hulu. The remaining six episodes will follow, being made available each week.

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2025-03-14 22:46