Christina Hendricks, renowned for her role in Mad Men, is joining forces with Ellen Pompeo, the star of Grey’s Anatomy, in Hulu’s upcoming limited series titled Natalia.
Previously known as Orphan, this series draws inspiration from the real-life story of Natalia Grace and centers around a couple from the Midwest, Kristine and Michael Barnett, portrayed by Pompeo and Mark Duplass from The Morning Show. The plot unfolds as they adopt what they believe to be an 8-year-old girl from Ukraine who has a rare condition causing dwarfism. However, as they integrate her into their family with their three biological children, they begin to question the girl’s true identity.
In her role, Hendricks embodies Cynthia Mans, a straightforward pastor’s wife and foster mother who steps into Natalia’s life during a critical and vulnerable period.
The ensemble cast also features Dulé Hill, known for The West Wing and Psych, as Brandon Drysdale, a detective probing into criminal accusations against the Barnetts. Additionally, Sarayu Blue from Expats will portray Valika, a parent of one of the children at Kristine’s daycare.
The story of Natalia Grace was previously explored in a 2023 series on Investigation Discovery, titled The Curious Case of Natalia Grace, which returned this year with a second season called The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks.
The project gained momentum in August 2022 when Pompeo committed to both star in and executive-produce the series. This announcement coincided with her decision to continue her role on Grey’s Anatomy in a limited capacity, ultimately appearing in less than half of Season 19.
Katie Robbins, recognized for her work on The Affair, serves as the creator and writer for Natalia, with executive production duties shared among Pompeo, writer Sarah Sutherland, producing partner Laura Holstein, Mike Epps, Dan Spilo, Niles Kirchner, Andrew Stern, and director Liz Garbus.
Beyond her iconic portrayal of Joan Holloway on Mad Men, Hendricks is also known for her leading role in NBC’s Good Girls.