Ellen Pompeo Ventures into True Crime Drama in ‘Good American Family’
Ellen Pompeo, widely recognized for her long-standing portrayal of Dr. Meredith Grey in Grey’s Anatomy, has debuted in Hulu’s factual drama series, Good American Family. The acclaimed 55-year-old actress takes on the role of Kristine Barnett, a woman who adopted Natalia Grace (portrayed by Imogen Faith Reid), a Ukrainian orphan with dwarfism, and subsequently abandoned her amidst disturbing allegations.
‘Good American Family’: Episode Release and Cast
The initial three episodes of Good American Family premiered this week, with subsequent episodes scheduled for weekly release. This eight-part series also features a notable ensemble cast including Mark Duplass, Dulé Hill, Christina Hendricks, and Sarayu Blue.
Grey’s Anatomy Reunion on Set
Notably, Pompeo’s involvement in Good American Family resulted in a mini-reunion with Sarayu Blue. Blue previously appeared in a 2014 episode of Grey’s Anatomy titled “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away,” where she played Pam, assisting her friend Lisa Campbell (Lindsey Kraft) in ending an affair.
Sarayu Blue’s Career Trajectory Post-Grey’s Anatomy
Although Blue’s appearance in Grey’s Anatomy was limited to a single episode, it served as a significant catalyst for her career. This guest role paved the way for subsequent parts in projects such as No Tomorrow, I Feel Bad, Medical Police, the popular teen film To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You, and Netflix’s hit series, Never Have I Ever. Her expanding portfolio also includes appearances in the To All the Boys spin-off series XO, Kitty, Expats, and voice work for the animated series Velma.
Pompeo Seeks New Acting Challenges
After two decades on Grey’s Anatomy, Pompeo’s reunion with a fellow Grey’s Anatomy alum is perhaps unsurprising, highlighting the extensive network fostered by the long-running medical drama, as reported by Mirror US.
Grey’s Anatomy is recognized for launching the careers of numerous actors, including Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine), Elisabeth Moss, Jesse Plemons, Dylan Minnette (13 Reasons Why), Keke Palmer, and Millie Bobby Brown (Stranger Things), among others.
Pompeo shared that her agent championed her participation in Good American Family, emphasizing the opportunity for in-depth character immersion.
As an executive producer for her new Hulu venture, Pompeo conveyed to Collider that her character in Good American Family is “completely different in every way” from her iconic role as Meredith Grey.
Enthusiasm for Diverse Roles
Expressing her eagerness for new roles, Pompeo stated, “I was so excited […] I was like please let me do something else. I love Grey’s, I love Meredith, I love all the fans, but please let me do something else. Let’s see if I still have it.”
Blue on Intriguing Dynamic in ‘Good American Family’
Blue, who portrays Valika, Kristin’s close friend in Good American Family, also communicated to the media about the “interesting dynamic” between the two female characters. She described witnessing their friendship “unravel” as a compelling aspect of the series.
‘Good American Family’ Streaming Details
Good American Family is available weekly on Hulu every Wednesday and will be accessible on Disney+ in the UK starting May 7.