Christina Hendricks, known for her role in Mad Men, is joining Ellen Pompeo from Grey’s Anatomy in Hulu’s upcoming limited series Natalia, according to an exclusive report from TVLine.
Previously titled Orphan, this series draws inspiration from the real-life story of Natalia Grace. It centers around Kristine and Michael Barnett, portrayed by Pompeo and Mark Duplass from The Morning Show, who adopt a girl they believe to be an 8-year-old Ukrainian with a rare form of dwarfism. However, as they integrate her into their family alongside their three biological children, suspicions arise about her true identity.
Hendricks takes on the role of Cynthia Mans, a steadfast pastor’s wife and foster mother, who enters Natalia’s life while she is in a particularly vulnerable situation.
The cast is further complemented by Dulé Hill, known for his performances in The West Wing and Psych, who plays Brandon Drysdale, a detective looking into the criminal allegations against the Barnetts. Additionally, Sarayu Blue, recognized from Expats, portrays Valika, a parent connected to Kristine’s daycare.
The story of Natalia Grace has sparked interest before, being featured in a 2023 Investigation Discovery series, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace. This series saw a new season, The Curious Case of Natalia Grace: Natalia Speaks, released earlier this year.
In August 2022, Pompeo committed to headlining and executive-producing the series. This decision coincided with her announcement to continue her role in Grey’s Anatomy on a limited basis, ultimately appearing in less than half of Season 19.
Katie Robbins, known for her work on The Affair, is the creator and writer for Natalia, and produces alongside Pompeo, writer Sarah Sutherland, producing partner Laura Holstein, Mike Epps, Dan Spilo, Niles Kirchner, Andrew Stern, and director Liz Garbus.
In addition to her iconic role as Joan Holloway on Mad Men, Hendricks has also starred in NBC’s Good Girls, further solidifying her presence in the television landscape.