Movies

For Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass, trust was central to ‘Good American Family’

BBG News

Despite being well-known on TV, Ellen Pompeo perceived that the creators of “Good American Family” were taking a risk by casting her.

For almost twenty years, Ellen Pompeo played the title character Meredith Grey in “Grey’s Anatomy”. However, in 2022, she revealed her intention to reduce her appearances on the show to focus on a new venture, marking her first significant role outside of the popular medical series.

In simpler terms, Pompeo expressed that she faced the need to demonstrate she could expand beyond the role she is well-known for, just as the creators of “Good American Family” did, by taking a chance.

She acknowledged that it required great courage, bravery, and a risk from everyone involved, as well as giving her an opportunity. She admitted, ‘I haven’t done anything for the past 20 years; I might have messed this up significantly.’

An opportunity has arisen with Hulu debuting a miniseries on Wednesday, which is based on the true tale of the Barnett family and Natalia Grace, a Ukrainian girl suffering from a rare kind of dwarfism. The Indiana family’s adoption of Natalia, their eventual desertion of her, and the ensuing legal issues were widely publicized in newspapers nationwide, eventually becoming the focus of the three-season Investigation Discovery docuseries “The Curious Case of Natalia Grace” and now “Good American Family.

In this television show, Pompeo shares the screen with Mark Duplass, portraying Kristine and Michael Barnett, the pair who welcomed Natalia (played by Imogen Faith Reid) into their family. The narrative of “Good American Family” is presented from various perspectives to depict the contrasting stories about the events that transpired among the family members.

For Pompeo, taking on her initial role after “Grey’s Anatomy” was quite challenging, given that the character she portrayed was intricately complex.

She expressed doubt, saying, “I wasn’t certain if I was capable of something new, given that I’ve been doing the same thing for twenty years. It seemed improbable to me that anyone would trust me with anything else.

Television

In a chat, the current showrunner of the popular, lengthy medical series ‘Grey’s Anatomy’, Meg Marinis, discusses her time with the show and shares some insights about the upcoming season finale.

However, Duplass, who was informed about her concerns during their initial meeting over a sushi dinner, managed to alleviate her worries. He remembered her inquiring, “Will I be capable of handling this task?

Duplass expressed, “I’m saying, ‘Naturally, you can handle this task, but it’s wonderful that you doubt yourself a bit, as it gives me a sense of security.

It’s not surprising that the Barnetts were anxious about their responsibilities given the intricate narrative of the Barnett family and the daughter they adopted. Kristine strongly believed that Natalia was an older individual pretending to be a child, and she accused her of attempting to harm family members, even labeling her as a “sociopath.” The Barnetts adjusted Natalia’s legal age to 22 years old, indicating their belief that she was an adult, and they allowed her to live independently in an apartment in 2013 before relocating to Canada with their biological children. However, Natalia disputes the Barnetts’ claims and has stated in interviews that it was she who was being mistreated. Recent DNA tests taken by Natalia in 2023 suggest her birth year could be around 2003, which would mean she was approximately 10 years old when abandoned.

In 2019, the parents faced accusations of neglecting their dependent. They both denied these charges. Michael was found innocent in 2022, while the allegations against Kristine were dismissed in 2023. Kristine continues to assert her innocence, but Michael, during multiple interviews for a documentary, labeled Kristine as a “monster,” claiming she had abused both him and Natalia. (Michael filed for divorce from Kristine in 2014.)

The parents were accused of neglecting their dependent in 2019, and they both pleaded not guilty. Michael was cleared of the charges in 2022, while the accusations against Kristine were withdrawn in 2023. Kristine insists on her innocence, but Michael has spoken negatively about Kristine in various documentary interviews, stating that she was abusive towards him and Natalia. (Michael filed for divorce from Kristine in 2014.)

Hollywood Inc.

People are investing significant amounts of time discussing real-life crime narratives, attracted by the authenticity and sense of nostalgia tied to tales that originated from actual news events.

Co-showrunners Katie Robbins and Sarah Sutherland expressed confidence that Pompeo would give a powerful acting performance, along with making valuable contributions in her capacity as an executive producer.

According to Robbins, who developed the series, there was no doubt in our minds that she would excel because she herself was anxious about it. This meant that every day she arrived prepared, having thought through her role, putting in the effort to ensure she could play this part flawlessly, and indeed she did so brilliantly, making for a wonderful creative partner.

In their own words, both Pompeo and Duplass expressed apprehension about portraying Kristine and Michael, characters who have frequently been criticized by the media. They felt that the project might cross a line into exploitation, a concern that resonated with them both. Notably, both actors are parents themselves: Pompeo is a mother to two daughters and a son with her husband, Chris Ivery, a record producer and writer; while Duplass is a father to two daughters with his wife Katie Aselton, an actress and filmmaker.

Duplass emphasized that he doesn’t approve of producing content simply because it’s trendy and profitable. He didn’t pass judgment, but instead expressed caution towards such practices. Essentially, he was questioning the purpose behind creating the show: ‘What is our reason for making this?’

Both actors attributed their decision to take on the role to early discussions with Robbins and Sutherland, as well as meeting Reid. The young actress’s portrayal of Natalia in the series represents her debut into major acting roles; she is also a devoted fan of “Grey’s Anatomy,” as confirmed by Duplass and Pompeo.

In creating “Good American Family”, Robbins firmly believed it would offer a fresh perspective rather than simply retelling the story already presented in documentaries, podcasts, and other media. Robbins aimed to delve deeper, exploring themes such as bias, loyalty, and the enigmatic concept of truth that she refers to as its elusive nature.

Television

In the 72nd episode of the long-standing medical series on television, the main character is bid farewell. Meanwhile, the robot movie ‘M3GAN’ has made its debut on Peacock streaming service. Furthermore, actor Rodrigo Santoro expresses admiration for Sarah Michelle Gellar in a recent interview.

In the series, the eight episodes are divided to present the viewpoints of Kristine, Michael, and Natalia, aiming to provide viewers a chance to examine their personal prejudices according to Robbins and her team.

Duplass expressed that having him and Pompeo in the cast seemed fitting for discussions on whom to trust and distrust, as they’ve both portrayed reliable, beloved characters over a long period.

Ellen Pompeo wanted to check if she was capable of taking on the role and if she would find it enjoyable or entertaining.”

(Jennifer McCord/For The Times)

Mark Duplass notes that trust has been accumulated between him and Ellen due to their many years of working together on screen. Over time, audiences have unconsciously come to believe that when they hear us speak, we are offering wise counsel. (Jennifer McCord/For The Times)

As a loyal admirer, I’d express it this way: “Over the years Ellen and I have shared onscreen, a wellspring of trust has been established. Unconsciously, our conversations have come to symbolize wisdom in the minds of many. We’ve leaned on our long-standing reputation as the heart of moral compass. However, unfortunately, that very foundation we’ve built starts to show signs of decay.

As I sat down to pen this review, I couldn’t help but reflect on Pompeo’s remarkable journey through the world of acting, particularly her time spent on “Grey’s Anatomy.” Over the course of 10,000 hours and beyond, she mastered the art of being fully present in an instant – a skill that would prove invaluable as she took on challenging roles.

However, even with her extensive experience, stepping into a new role after several years was no easy feat for Pompeo. She candidly admitted to feeling the anxiety that comes with starting from scratch. Yet, she embraced this challenge, demonstrating an impressive resilience and commitment to her craft.

She mentioned, ‘I wanted to check if I could manage it and if I’d find it enjoyable, if I considered it fun.’ She explained, ‘It was quite a significant challenge for me. It was an essential trial,’ she added.

In their initial interaction, they discovered a strong connection – Pompeo mentioned this – and they’ve discussed potentially working together again on future projects.

Duplass expressed his delight in collaborating and spending time with him, mentioning he’d love to repeat the experience. Then, Pompeo playfully hinted at possibly joining Duplass in the next season of “The Morning Show”.

In a recent statement, Pompeo expressed uncertainty about the future direction of her career at this point. However, she maintained a lighthearted tone when discussing it alongside Duplass, saying, “Here’s hoping things turn out alright for us.

Read More

2025-03-19 13:33

Previous post Zara McDermott Finds Happiness with Louis Tomlinson After Sam Thompson Split!
Next post Olivia Attwood: Love Island Secret Behind Marriage Success with Bradley Dack