If you haven’t heard of Imogen Faith Reid, get ready to get familiar. The 27-year-old stars as the real-life Natalia Grace in Hulu’s newest drama series Good American Family, opposite Ellen Pompeo and Mark Duplass—a role that marks her very first T.V. gig, with critics saying she is a standout. Besides holding her own alongside Pompeo, Reid is also shedding light on the importance of inclusive casting and sharing some social-media real talk on how she curbs her her acne.
How did you feel when you found out you got this role? I believe it is your first role ever, and there was an international search for the part. What was your reaction when you got the call?
Oh, man. I remember I was in a restaurant with my best friends having a good time, and it was a sunny day. I got an email and looked at my phone. It was the contract, and it just said: “Natalia.” I freaked out. It felt so crazy. I was so excited, but also overwhelmed. I didn’t know how to feel, but it was a moment that I’ll never forget.
How did you prep for the role? Did you know the background of Natalia’s story? Did you go in knowing what did—or didn’t—happen?
I did need to prep. I had such amazing help from an acting coach that Disney so kindly hooked me up with—it was my first role and I am grateful they arranged that for me. I also had a movement coach to move similarly to Natalia, but not to imitate. I had to make how I moved genuine in my body, because my dwarfism is different to Natalia’s. I also had an amazing dialect coach. With all these things, and with talking to EPs and directors on set, I decided that I wanted to come up with my own version of Natalia. I found the process super interesting.
What feedback are you getting about the show and your part in it in particular?
The feedback has been so supportive. It’s so nice. I wake up to a lot of really nice messages…a lot of people are just telling me that I’m doing such a good job. They’re thoroughly enjoying it, which is really so nice to hear. Actually, saying “it’s nice” doesn’t cut it! It’s so much more than that. It’s just so great to see the support. As someone who’s never done this before, it means a lot when people are so supportive and write me messages. Although I may not respond, I see them all. It’s just so lovely.
Amazing. How was it like working with Pompeo, who is such a T.V. icon? This is a big project for her, too. What was it like acting alongside her?
She’s also an icon to me. I really love her. Ellen was a real mentor for me. She gave me so much advice, especially on having a voice. She’s a real advocate for supporting women. It was really important for me to have her—especially as someone who has never been on any kind of set before. Learning from her really meant a lot. She would tell me, “Imogen, you have a voice. You can speak up when you want to.” It was just so reassuring to have her there. I needed to work with someone like her. I’ll never forget the things that she has taught me. I’m so grateful that I was able to have this experience with her.
Since we’re a beauty magazine, I have to ask: Were there any items you used on set that you really liked while filming?
They introduced me to Dermalogica, the moisturizer. It really helped. I have dry skin, and I suffer from acne, and this one product really did help. Also, I was introduced to a lot of CeraVe products. I love using the CeraVe Hydrating Cleanser. It really helps with my skin. We also used a lot of The Ordinary products as well, especially the hyaluronic acid. It’s very moisturizing. I think a lot of moisture is always key, especially if you have dry skin and you’re wearing makeup for hours and hours on end. I was all about that moisture going onto my skin the moment that I finished with filming.
All great brands. And good price points.
Yes! With skin care, we’re always circling that myth that you have to invest so much money into it, and it’s not true! It’s about the ingredients that are inside. I only know this stuff because, as I said, I have dealt with acne, and I really had to be my own researcher to help my skin. I don’t want to say I’m an expert, but I used to watch people on YouTube growing up, like Cassandra Banks, who had struggled with acne, and Hyram, who helps people with skin problems. It’s not about the money of the products, it’s about what goes into it. I think that’s something that’s really important to keep in mind.
It’s true. I know that this is a heavier question, but you are doing a lot with adding some inclusivity to the industry. Have you gotten any feedback about that?
Yes, that’s a really good question. I think off the bat, I would love to see even more inclusivity in the industry. I think we’re doing such a good job of opening those barriers, but we need to keep going. I’d love to see more little people like me on screen. As someone who had no real acting experience…for them to take me on was so nice. I’d love to see other people get those opportunities as well.
Even today, I got a message from someone saying that their daughter is also small like me. It meant a lot to them to see that representation on T.V. That was really nice for me to hear. It’s just nice that we’re seeing that on T.V. I hope it continues.
That’s amazing. My last question, since acting is a newer thing for you, do you think you want to keep pursuing it as your career? Is this something that you want to do more of?
Oh, yes, I want to keep going. I had the best time and experience, and I can’t wait to have more of them. I can’t wait to learn from other actors and to learn more on set. But, right now, I am so grateful to be promoting the show. I might have a few things lined up, but not sure yet. Right now, I’m just promoting the show, and I wouldn’t want to do anything else. It’s really an exciting time.
