Beyond Height: How Imogen Faith Reid’s Authenticity Transformed a Controversial Story

Beyond Height: How Imogen Faith Reid’s Authenticity Transformed a Controversial Story

This is an unlisted article. At 4 feet 3 inches, this 27-year-old British actress is inspiringly authentic in her performance as Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian adoptee with dwarfism. From body doubles to her first gig, Reid had an opportunity to show off her skills.

The article explores how she was tracked down in an international search, how she prepared for the complicated role, and how Ellen Pompeo mentored her. Though Reid never met the actual Natalia, audiences and critics alike have been dazzled by Reid’s ardent devotion to telling the story truthfully.

Who Is Imogen Faith Reid?

More Than Just a Child Actor, Imogen Faith Reid has made her mark as Natalia Grace in Hulu’s captivating drama series Good American Family.” This 27-year-old British talent was born May 1, 1997, in Greenwich, London. She’s 4’3″ (130cm), which is the first of many things she had to overcome to get her breakout role.

Reid, who is of average height, was raised by a supportive family that always kept her hopes high despite the odds of entering the entertainment industry. These building blocks enabled her to walk into every room confident and secure. Eventually, she graduated from North Kent College and pursued further studies at Miskin Theatre.

Although Reid is similar in height to Natalia Grace, they have different types of dwarfism. Natalia has a different type of dwarfism known as Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita. Reid’s close familiarity with life as a little person made her well suited to channel everyone her character encounters.

“I get our daily grind and the judgment that we see in our everyday lives,” Reid said in an interview. This close relationship ignited her motivation to tell Natalia’s story with heart and truthfulness.

Reid Went From Background Work To A Breakout Role

Career Highlights & Early Experience

Additional Acting Credits

Project	Platform	Year
The Witcher – Season 3	Netflix	2023
The One and Only Ivan	Disney+	2020
The Third Day	HBO	2020
The Famous Five	TBD / Likely BBC	2024

When I saw the self-tape through my agent, I thought, ‘Well, I’m not going to get that. If somebody gets it — kill it,’” she told Gold Derby. Despite her misgivings, her talent came through as she got the part after four callbacks in what she described as “just such an incredible moment.”

Natalia’s Story Reimagined: Reid Discusses Playing the Complex Role

Once Reid was cast, Disney (Hulu’s parent company) supported her preparation for such a weighty role. She consulted a dialect coach for an American accent and an acting coach to help her access Natalia’s emotional depths.

Reid also worked with a movement coach, as Reid and Natalia have different kinds of dwarfism and move in markedly different ways. Reid’s attention to detail drives home his point of wanting to accurately portray Natalia and give due respect to her story as it is. The role asked Reid to imagine a lot of emotional range as she embodied Natalia from several angles.

“These manipulators and one-up ‘ers and all this kind of stuff have nothing to do with me, but as Natalia, my version of her is extremely manipulative and one step ahead and things like that. And then we go to my POV, where we find her in pain, straight in the desert, abandoned,” Reid explained. “It was fun to play with both as an actor.”

The first four episodes were so much fun, and I just released that image, ready to come out my villain era,” she added. But I preferred Natalia’s because that was so heartbreaking and a nuanced story.” It’s going to be hard to know the truth.”

Reid’s Professional Engagement With Ellen Pompeo

For Reid, sharing the screen with “Grey’s Anatomy” star Ellen Pompeo was a highlight. A longtime fan of the medical drama, Reid felt that the show was her “comfort show,” and having Pompeo play her on-screen mother was an experience she described as nothing short of surreal.

As if that weren’t special enough, Reid also had the opportunity to be mentored by Pompeo throughout production. “I mean, Ellen was just such an amazing mentor for me as a person who’s just getting started,” Reid said in the clip. “She reminded me that I have a voice; I can still speak up.

This mentorship was invaluable for Reid as she adjusted to her first significant television role. Pompeo made her comfortable on set and kept her up to speed on the industry, paticularly enabling Reid to give such a staggering performance.

Mark Duplass, who stars in the series as Michael Barnett, also lauded Reid’s presence on set, referring to her as “such a bright light.” He liked that her enthusiasm and gratitude reminded him of his early days in the same industry. “You get to witness that with Immy, who is showing you and telling you what it was like when I was at the Sundance Film Festival for my first $3 independent film, and when I was 25 years old,” Duplass said.

An Ear for the Unbelievable: Reid’s Devotion To Natalia

Reid never spoke to the honest Natalia Grace, but she researched extensively to create her real-life version of the character. She felt a great responsibility to tell Natalia’s story truthfully and with compassion.

“My love for Natalia, my version of Natalia, just kind of blossomed more and more as the show went on,” Reid said. “I just wanted the empowerment and the fight for justice and this young girl’s story to be seen and heard, and I was so passionate about playing this character.

This commitment left an impression on the showrunners, and Robbins remarked, “Immy, possibly more than anyone, cares so much about doing justice to this story, worked so hard, and gave so much of herself. And then this performance—there is such vulnerability in it.”

The series follows the bizarre story of Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian orphan who was adopted by the Barnett family and claimed she was a grown woman posing as a child. The show provides many angles to help inform the viewer’s opinion on this intricate case.

FAQ

How old is Imogen Faith Reid?
Imogen Reid is 27 years old as of 2025, having been born on May 1, 1997.

Which dwarfism does Imogen Faith Reid have?
Reid’s type of dwarfism is not publicly named; however, it is not the same as Natalia Grace’s Spondyloepiphyseal Dysplasia Congenita.

What was Imogen Faith Reid’s first significant acting role?
“Good American Family” is Reid’s first lead role in a television series, though she previously worked as a featured dancer and body double on several high-profile projects.

Imogen Faith Reid did not meet the honest Natalia Grace
No, Reid didn’t meet or speak to the honest Natalia Grace in preparation for the role. She shaped her character through research and her sense of the experience of being a little person.

Imogen Faith Reid: What else has Imogen Faith Reid been in?
Reid’s credits include “Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald,” “Les Misérables,” “Lord of the Rings: Rings of Power,” “The Witcher,” “The One and Only Ivan,” “The Third Day” and “The Famous Five.”

What is the height of Imogen Faith Reid?
Her name is Imogen Faith Reid, and she is 4’3″ (130cm) tall.

Conclusion

Imogen Faith Reid portrays Natalia Grace surprisingly well in Good American Family. Her journey from behind-the-scenes to lead actress also showcases the power of persistence, hard work, and industry mentorship—she credits people like Ellen Pompeo for her success.

While audiences catch up with Reid on Hulu, her performance not only narrates a compelling story but also motivates anyone overcoming similar obstacles. Her journey reminds us of the value of genuine narratives and representation in entertainment.